Depression, loneliness and factors influencing in Syrian refugee children

About 3.5 million Syrian refugees are living within the borders of Turkey. This study examined depression, loneliness and factors influencing refugee children who live outside the camps and attend school in Turkey.

This was a descriptive study in Sanliurfa, which has the second highest refugee population in Turkey. The sample consisted of 535 students attending 6-8 grades in five schools randomly selected of 18 schools located in the city centre where the Syrian children received their education. Data were collected using the Sociodemographic Characteristics Question Form, the Depression Scale for Children and the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Data were analysed by IBM spss v23. The percentage, average and standard deviation were determined. A linear regression analysis was used to examine the independent variables affecting loneliness and depression scores, and the Backward method was used to include independent variables in the model. Significance level was considered as P < .05.

The average age of the children was 13.22 ± 1.33 years and 57.9% female. The average UCLA Loneliness Scale score was 42.95 ± 7.77. About 42% of the children received ≥19 on the depression scale, and 65% of them received ≥40 on the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Independent variables affecting depression score and UCLA loneliness score were analysed by a linear regression analysis. The linear regression model established for depression and UCLA loneliness score was obtained as statistically significant (P < .001).

Depression and loneliness scores were relatively high in children, particularly those exposed to the devastating impacts of war. These results will make significant contributions to the planning of services to be provided for this group of children.