Resilience as a communal concept: Understanding adolescent resilience in the context of the Syrian refugee crisis in Bar Elias, Lebanon

Abstract

Background The conflict in Syria has led to the displacement of 1.5 million refugees into the neighboring country of Lebanon, with a majority that have yet to return to their homeland. Syrian adolescents in the town of Bar Elias in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon have lived and grown in the face of resource-limited environments, restricted movement, and a longing for return. Resilience is manifested in the adaptation to such circumstances through close supportive relationships, social engagement, employment, and religion. There is a communal aspect to resilience that is important to the adolescent refugee experience and to the efforts supporting these communities. Methods Fifteen one-to-one interviews and two focus groups, with a total of eighteen Syrian adolescents, were analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis informed by grounded theory principles. Participants were recruited through partnering non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the area, and ethical approval was granted through UCL and the American University in Beirut (AUB). Results Syrian adolescents highlighted supportive relationships, communal activities and spaces, memories of home, employment, and shared environments as integral elements to their personal adaptation. Methods of resilience involved social cohesion and establishing stability for one's family and close community. Adaptation to the present is intertwined with facing the consequences of displacement in this new context and maintaining aspirations for a bright future. Engaging with the environments they share and help create is an important facet of resilience and occurs through group gatherings , hobbies, and online communication. Additionally, inner strength can be derived from religious activities and empowers individual processing. Conclusion This study illuminates the elements and mechanisms embodied in these adolescents’ communities and relationships that allow for adaptation to life in Bar Elias. These factors strengthen their approach to overcome social barriers and practice resilience. These communal aspects of the adolescents’ lives also connect to their memories of home, current environment, and future aspirations.

Social and cultural conditions affecting the mental health of Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian adolescents living in and around Bar Elias, Lebanon

“…Adolescents’ supportive relationships were found in the home, and created at schools and by chance in public spaces. Supportive relationships can be foundations of stability for adolescents going through the transition of growth and displacement, and to many participants, enabled them to adapt to their environment and circumstances ( Nagi et al., 2021 ) ( Kirby et al., 2020 ). They provide a stable foundation for understanding oneself, finding comfort with the present situation, and a purpose for building towards a future.…”

Young people’s perspectives of inequitable urban change in Lebanese towns affected by mass displacement

“…In their narratives about urban change, young people point to how planning processes have created the conditions of inequality and underdevelopment which affect their lives. Young Syrians' lived experience of displacement is different from young Lebanese, and the challenges they face are often specific to their status as displaced people, particularly with regards to work, education and mobility (Nagi et al, 2021). However, young Syrians and Lebanese residents both refer to material conditions of inequality between residents, and to their abandonment by local planning authorities.…”

“…Sample sizes from the 2020 study are therefore limited. To address this limitation, this paper draws on the research of others, and builds on findings from previous studies conducted in 2016 and 2019, with adolescents and adults living in Bar Elias, Marj and Majdal Anjar (Hamadallah et al, 2019; Nagi et al, 2021; Sender et al, 2022).…”

Different trajectories from a common crisis. Survival migrations and resilience of venezuelan adolescents to Peru

“…Nevertheless, these adolescents can often rely on strong family support and generally show great capacities of adaptation, notably through schooling and ambitious educational projects (De Vos, 2012). In circumstances of forced displacement, adolescents’ adaptation is based on resilience through family and community ties, and on agency expressed by working autonomously, performing at school, and participating in religious activities (Nagi et al, 2021; Sleijpen et al, 2017). These experiences develop the adolescents’ sense of responsibility and catalyse their transition to adulthood (Mondain and Lardoux, 2013).…”