Relation of Psychosocial Factors to Diverse Behaviors and Attitudes among Somali Refugees

Refugee studies have examined both resilience and adverse outcomes, but no research has examined how different outcomes co-occur or are distinct, and the social-contextual factors that give rise to these diverse outcomes. 

The current study begins to address this gap by using latent profile analysis to examine the ways in which delinquency, gang involvement, civic engagement, political engagement, and openness to violent extremism cluster among Somali refugees. We then use multivariable regression analyses to examine how adversity (e.g., discrimination, trauma, and marginalization) is associated with the identified latent classes. Data were collected from 374 Somali refugee young adults (Mage = 21.30 years, SD = 2.90, range 18-30, 38% female) from 4 different North American communities. 

Participants completed a structured survey assessing their experiences of adversity, delinquent and/or violent attitudes and behaviors (e.g., attitudes toward violent extremism, participation in delinquent behaviors, involvement in gangs), and positive outcomes (e.g., civic and political engagement). 

Our findings indicate that participants fall into 5 distinct groups, and that social-contextual and individual factors are uniquely related to those groups. Specifically, strong social bonds seem to be associated with positive outcomes. 

These findings point to the need to further examine both positive and negative outcomes, paying special attention to social-contextual factors.

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By:  Ellis BH, Abdi SM, Lazarevic V, White MT, Lincoln AK, Stern JE, Horgan JG.

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What Social Bonds have the Greatest Influence on Patterns of Substance Use among Child-Welfare-Involved Youth?

Child-welfare-involved youth may lack protective social bonds that could reduce their risk of substance use. We investigated whether caregiver, school, or peer bonds predict distinct patterns of substance use among child-welfare-involved youth. 

The sample included 720 participants in the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being II. Latent class analysis (LCA) and the three-step approach to incorporate indicator variables onto the latent classes were used. 

We found the following classes: 

1. severe polysubstance use; 
2. moderate polysubstance use; and 
3. low use. 

Youth bonded to primary caregivers were less likely to be severe polysubstance drug users, but caregiver bonds did not protect against moderate polysubstance use. 

School bonds protected against severe polysubstance and moderate polysubstance. 

Youth bonded to deviant peers were more likely to be in the severe polysubstance use and moderate polysubstance use classes. 

Interventions targeting child-welfare-involved youth need to account for social bonds' effect on substance use.

Via:  http://ht.ly/SphJE 

By: Snyder SM1, Gwaltney AY2, Landeck E2.

• 1a Assistant Professor, School of Social Work , Georgia State University , Atlanta , GA.
• 2b Research Assistant, School of Social Work , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , NC.

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