The impact of war followed by forced displacement on women and children: how Syrian mothers perceive their experiences

Abstract

PurposeThis research aimed to describe and examine the effects of war followed by forced displacement on Syrian mothers and their children in terms of Reuben Hill's Family Stress Theory and identify essential elements to consider in social work practice with this population.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 Syrian mothers living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A thematic analysis at both a semantic and latent level was completed. A case study – “Noor” – was developed to offer insight into one Syrian woman's experiences and response to war-related stressors and displacement.FindingsThe findings from the analysis of the interviews and case study indicated that for Syrian families displaced by conflict the traumas of war were compounded by ongoing and multiple emotional and practical stressors, with ongoing experiences of “loss” being the significant stressor. Giving context to these findings highlights the demand and impost on the host countries, in this study, the UAE, to continue their significant humanitarian efforts to Syrian families.Research limitations/implicationsThese findings will assist social workers, humanitarian organisations and their staff and others working with Syrian families, to respond more effectively.Originality/valueThere is no research in evidence in the professional literature that addresses the effects of war on displaced Syrian families in terms of Reuben Hill's Family Stress Theory.

Understanding ways to support teens and parents affected by Russia–Ukraine war

“…The study relied on semi-structured interviews, which are common in exploratory studies and have been used in similar contexts to explore accounts of traumatic/war experiences (Al Gharaibeh and O’Sullivan, 2021; Somasundaram and Sivayokan, 2013; cite removed for blind review). Interview prompts were developed based on the research questions above, pre-tested on the small group of Ukrainian parents (3) and refined (the list of questions can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/UKRInterviewQs) The interviews were conducted in October 2022, nine months after the Russian invasion.…”

“…Studies have shown that parental support has a protective effect on children and adolescents who have been exposed to armed conflict and that parents' mental health and coping mechanisms influence the mental health and wellbeing of their children (Tol et al, 2013). However, periods of war disrupt and alter protective family structures (Boylu et al, 2016), often leaving one parent or caretaker with an outsized role in supporting children (Sabatelli and Bartle, 1995;Al Gharaibeh and O'Sullivan, 2021). War often causes caregivers to focus on basic needs such as providing food and shelter to their dependents, with diminished capacity for emotional engagement and self-care (Barbara, 2006;Eltanamly et al, 2021).…”

International Displacement and Family Stress in Latin America

“…Although only a handful of studies have applied family stress and crisis frameworks to understanding how displacement affects MNP families (Al Gharaibeh & O’Sullivan, 2021; Hackbarth et al, 2012; Peek et al, 2011; Vos et al, 2021), a much larger body of work details the specific stressors of displacement and explores how these stressors impact adults, children, and parent–child relationships separately. First, MNP are inordinately exposed to trauma and report much lower levels of wellbeing than other populations.…”