COPE for Adolescent Syrian Refugees in Lebanon: A Brief Cognitive–Behavioral Skill-Building Intervention to Improve Quality of Life and Promote Positive Mental Health

Abstract

Lebanon has the highest per-capita concentration of refugees worldwide. There is an urgent need to offer psychosocial interventions to vulnerable groups such as Syrian refugee adolescents. To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of a cognitive–behavioral intervention (Creating Opportunities for Patient Empowerment [COPE]) on depression, anxiety, and quality of life (QOL) in a sample of adolescent refugees (13-17 years) living in Lebanon. A preexperimental study design was used. COPE 7-Session was delivered to 31 adolescent Syrian refugees. Participants were assessed for depression (Personal Health Questionnaire–9), anxiety (General Anxiety Disorders Scale), and QOL (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory). Feasibility and acceptability findings indicated that the COPE program was a positive experience for teens. Significant decreases in depression and anxiety, and increases in QOL were also reported. COPE is an effective cognitive–behavioral intervention that can be delivered in an Arabic/Middle-Eastern setting for teen refugees to improve mental health and QOL.

Mindful BALANCE (breathe act learn about ‘now’ care everyday): A pilot project for depressed female adolescents

“…The GAD‐7 is a 7‐question scale measuring symptoms over the past 2 weeks from not at all (0) to nearly every day (3) rating severity; >5 is mild, 10–14 is moderate, and ≥15 indicates severe anxiety (Spitzer et al, 2006). Both instruments (Doumit et al, 2018; Erlich et al, 2019) have been utilized to study the impact of COPE. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to describe and analyze the data using IBM SPSS software.…”

“…The COPE group program integrates short‐themed mindfulness exercises. Mindful BALANCE utilized the 7‐week COPE format (Doumit et al, 2018; Erlich et al, 2019; Hart Abney et al, 2019) with an expanded mindfulness focus.…”

“…Both instruments (Doumit et al, 2018;Erlich et al, 2019) have been utilized to study the impact of COPE. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to describe and analyze the data using IBM SPSS software.…”

Displacement and Emotional Well-Being among Married and Unmarried Syrian Adolescent Girls in Lebanon: An Analysis of Narratives

“…Third, these codes were conceptualised into interpretive analytical categories (situations of humiliation, fear, empowerment) to help identify and explain the relationship between the codes and identify areas of consensus and areas of divergence. Categories of codes helped explain the meaning and context of emotional feelings being expressed [53,54]. Categorization helped organize the initial codes into meaningful patterns [55].…”

Refugee Children and Interventions for Depression: A Review of Current Interventions and Implications of the Ecological Context

“…Positive experiences within the education system including social support and the ability to create a stable future through education have been associated with resiliency and overall adjustment including lower depressive symptoms for refugee children (Mohamed & Thomas, 2017;Sujoldžic ét al., 2006). Six studies conducted in the community context included community-informed methods to ensure cultural considerations were emphasized in the intervention's design (Doumit et al, 2018;Ehntholt et al, 2005;El-Khani, Cartwright, et al, 2018;Ellis et al, 2013;Fox et al, 2005;Ugurlu et al, 2016). Understanding cultural context is essential for developing successful, tailored interventions targeting depression in refugee children (Weine, 2011).…”