Stress, Coping, and Religiosity among Recent Syrian Refugees in Canada

As of November 2015, 34 696 Syrian refugees have resettled in Canada (Government of Canada, 2016). Previous studies with various refugee populations have revealed: a) depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder as resulting from trauma in their country of origin (De Jong, Komproe, & Van Ommeren, 2003; Mollica et al., 2004) and b) problems with discrimination and Islamophobia in their new host cultures (Hassan et al., 2015). Thus, the need for effective coping strategies is critical for refugees to survive and to thrive in their new country. In a recent study, it was found that Syrian refugees reported the most effective coping strategies for them have included talking to friends and family, prayer, reading the Quran, and joining support groups (Al Akash & Boswall, 2015). Syrian refugees come from a social fabric belonging to families and communities with strong collectivist and religious identities. Therefore, the current study conducted qualitative interviews with recent Muslim, Arab, Syrian refugees between the age of 30-55 to investigate themes of stress, coping, and religiosity in refugees` lived experiences and narratives. A sample of eight Syrian refugee participants were recruited from the community in Windsor, Ontario. Syrian refugee participants were asked to explore their stress and coping strategies with regards to pre- and post-arrival and settlement in Canada in an open dialogue in Arabic with the assistance of a language interpreter. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded using a thematic analysis with the expectation that Syrian refugees’ pre-arrival experiences in Syria would influence their post arrival attitudes. It was also postulated that Syrian refugees who identify more strongly with Muslim values would utilize more religiously-oriented coping strategies to deal with stressors associated with their refugee experience. The study ultimately aims to expand the current literature on the experiences of Muslim refugees living in the West.