Widowed and displaced: Spiritual and religious coping in mental health recovery among Syrian refugee women in Türkiye.

内容摘要

Syrian refugee women in T&#xfc;rkiye face intertwined challenges, trauma, displacement, economic hardship, and sociocultural pressures that impact their mental health. This study aimed to explore the relationships among trauma symptoms, psychological distress, depression, resilience, and spirituality in widowed Syrian refugee women. It also examined how demographic and contextual factors-such as age, education, length of stay in T&#xfc;rkiye, and residency location-contribute to mental health outcomes. A cross-sectional quantitative design was employed, utilizing both online and paper-based self-administered questionnaires. A total of 167 widowed Syrian refugee women residing in T&#xfc;rkiye participated in the study. Standardized scales were used to assess trauma (Impact of Event Scale-Revised), psychological distress (Kessler K-10), depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale), resilience, and spiritual well-being. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS Version 30. Analytical procedures included Pearson correlation, hierarchical multiple regression, one-way analysis of variance, and Tukey's HSD post hoc tests. Trauma, psychological distress, and depression were strongly interrelated (r&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.522-0.622, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001), indicating a high level of co-occurrence among mental health symptoms. Resilience and spirituality were negatively associated with both distress (r&#x2009;=&#x2009;-0.218 and -0.327) and depression (r&#x2009;=&#x2009;-0.270 and -0.333, all p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001), suggesting their protective roles. Age (&#x3b2;&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.261, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.004) and years lived in T&#xfc;rkiye (&#x3b2;&#x2009;=&#x2009;-0.162, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.043) significantly predicted trauma and depression. Spirituality (&#x3b2;&#x2009;=&#x2009;-0.289 to -0.290, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001) and resilience (&#x3b2;&#x2009;=&#x2009;-0.208, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.013) predicted lower distress and depression; residency had an impact on all psychological outcomes (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). Participants in rural areas reported better mental health outcomes compared to those in urban areas. These findings highlight the dual role of individual psychological resources and broader structural conditions in shaping refugee women's mental health. Culturally sensitive, trauma-informed interventions must therefore target both emotional coping mechanisms and the systemic inequalities influencing displaced women's well-being. This study looked at the mental health of widowed Syrian refugee women living in T&#xfc;rkiye. These women often face serious difficulties, such as losing their homes, living in poverty, raising children alone, and experiencing trauma from war. These hardships can lead to emotional struggles, including stress, depression, and trauma-related symptoms.The goal of the study was to understand how factors such as age, education, length of time in T&#xfc;rkiye, and place of residence affect their mental health. The study also explored how personal strengths, such as resilience (the ability to cope with difficulties) and spirituality (encompassing religious or spiritual beliefs and practices), help protect mental well-being.A total of 167 widowed Syrian refugee women filled out surveys that measured their levels of trauma, depression, psychological distress, resilience, and spirituality. The results showed that trauma, distress, and depression often go hand in hand. However, women who reported higher levels of resilience and spirituality tended to have better mental health and fewer symptoms of depression and distress.Age and the number of years they had lived in T&#xfc;rkiye also made a difference. Older women and those who had recently arrived were more likely to report trauma and depression. Where the women lived in T&#xfc;rkiye also mattered; those living in cities like Gaziantep and Antakya generally had better mental health than those in places like Istanbul or Urfa. Education had a limited effect, although women with higher education reported slightly lower spirituality.The findings suggest that while personal strengths like faith and resilience help, mental health is also shaped by external conditions like housing, safety, and support services. Helping refugee women cope emotionally is crucial, but genuine improvements will also require changes in their living conditions and access to essential resources. This study calls for mental health programs that not only support women emotionally but also improve their living environments, reduce inequality, and consider cultural and religious values in care.