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Managing acculturation threats with tailored self-affirmation interventions: A mixed-methods study with Syrian forced
Yara Alnajjar1, Constantina Badea1, Michael Bender2
1Department of Social Psychology, University of Paris Nanterre, Nanterre, France.
The British Journal of Social Psychology
|June 5, 2026
Summary
Culturally tailored self-affirmation techniques improved well-being for Syrian refugees during acculturation. These interventions, developed using mixed methods, specifically addressed threats faced by non-WEIRD populations adapting to new societies.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Intervention Science
Background:
- Self-affirmation interventions enhance well-being but require cultural adaptation for diverse populations.
- Non-WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) populations often face unique acculturation challenges.
- Syrian forced migrants in European host societies experience specific threats impacting well-being and self-image.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate culturally grounded self-affirmation techniques for Syrian forced migrants.
- To address threats encountered during acculturation and enhance psychological well-being.
- To utilize a mixed-methods participatory approach for intervention design.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study: 30 in-depth interviews to identify acculturation threats and coping mechanisms.
- Experimental study: 313 participants assigned to tailored self-affirmation (host, heritage, individual domains) or control conditions.
- Measures included acculturation orientation, hedonic well-being, self-esteem, and sense of belonging.
Main Results:
- Combined self-affirmation interventions significantly enhanced hedonic well-being compared to the control group.
- Intervention effectiveness was particularly pronounced when self-affirmation aligned with participants' acculturation orientations.
- Culturally tailored interventions demonstrated positive effects on psychological outcomes for a specific underrepresented group.
Conclusions:
- Mixed-methods development of culturally grounded self-affirmation interventions is effective for forced migrants.
- Interventions tailored to acculturation orientations enhance well-being and psychological resilience.
- Further research should validate these interventions across diverse forced migrant populations and cultural contexts.
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