Exploring social bridging, sense of belonging, and integration amongst the Syrian refugee community
Abstract
The civil war in Syria caused an upheaval to all aspects of life for its citizens, resulting in an unprecedented number of Syrians arriving in Canada as refugees. While government and settlement agencies responded by addressing their immediate needs, other aspects of their integration, specifically their social integration, were much less prioritized and minimally resourced. This study drew on Ager & Strang’s (2008) Domains of Integration Framework and their description of social bridging to explore this aspect of social integration of refugees in greater detail. A qualitative descriptive methodology was applied to explore how Syrian refugees describe their experiences of building social bridges in Canada, and how these bridges impact their sense of belonging and overall integration. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with
twelve adult members of the Syrian refugee community, and thematic analysis was used to interpret the data.
Notes
Key populations: Syrian refugees who now live in Edmonton, AB
Integration timeline: arrival in Canada in 2015 up to the first half of 2017
Open access: Yes
Location: Edmonton, AB
Key recommendations:
Use the findings from this thesis to improve social bridging supports for refugees.
Future research / gaps identified:
Continue to study these interrelationships in order to develop theories and practical changes in facilitating the social bridging of refugees.
Key findings:
1) Social bridging is influenced by the conditions that shape if social bridges are formed.
2) Friendliness, intentional connections, and neighbourly relations are valued social bridges.
3) Social bridging promotes adaptation and sense of belonging outcomes for refugees.
Community organizations: n/a