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A Scoping Review of Instruments Used in Measuring Social Support among Refugees in Resettlement

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  • Godfred O. Boateng

    (School of Global Health, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
    Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada)

  • Karin Wachter

    (School of Social Work, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA)

  • Roseanne C. Schuster

    (School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85069, USA)

  • Tanya L. Burgess

    (School of Social Work, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA)

  • Mary Bunn

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

Abstract

This study aimed to systematically review current research on the application of existing social support scales in research with refugees in resettlement, assess their quality, and identify gaps in measurement to enhance research and practice. A scoping review was conducted on the extant literature published until March 2023. A team of researchers conducted search, sorting, and data extraction processes following best practices for scale development and validation. Of the 1185 studies collected from the search process, 41 articles were retained in the final analysis, from which 17 distinct social support instruments used in research with resettled refugees were identified. An assessment of all 17 instruments showed the presence of one or more limitations associated with construct, criterion, convergent, and/or discriminant validity. Test of reliability was assessed in all studies, with a range of 0.80 to 0.90. Our findings show that most of the research evaluating social support among resettled refugees is conducted without measurement instruments adequately validated in the resettlement context. This analysis highlights the need for rigorously developed social support scales that reflect the lived experiences, needs, and priorities of resettled refugees.

Suggested Citation

  • Godfred O. Boateng & Karin Wachter & Roseanne C. Schuster & Tanya L. Burgess & Mary Bunn, 2024. "A Scoping Review of Instruments Used in Measuring Social Support among Refugees in Resettlement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(6), pages 1-25, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:6:p:805-:d:1418447
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar & Genevieve E Chandler & Cynthia S Jacelon & Bhuwan Gautam & Elizabeth R Bertone-Johnson & Steven D Hollon, 2019. "Resilience and anxiety or depression among resettled Bhutanese adults in the United States," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 65(6), pages 496-506, September.
    2. Kenneth Carswell & Pennie Blackburn & Chris Barker, 2011. "The Relationship Between Trauma, Post-Migration Problems and the Psychological Well-Being of Refugees and Asylum Seekers," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 57(2), pages 107-119, March.
    3. Sherbourne, Cathy Donald & Stewart, Anita L., 1991. "The MOS social support survey," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 32(6), pages 705-714, January.
    4. Caitlin Bletscher & Sara Spiers, 2023. "“Step by Step We Were Okay Now”: An Exploration of the Impact of Social Connectedness on the Well-Being of Congolese and Iraqi Refugee Women Resettled in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-27, March.
    5. Wachter, Karin & Gulbas, Lauren E., 2018. "Social support under siege: An analysis of forced migration among women from the Democratic Republic of Congo," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 107-116.
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