Linking Perceived Family and Peer Support to Hope in Syrian Refugee Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Academic Self-Efficacy

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the impacts of family and peer support on hope of Syrian refugee adolescents. The study also examined the mediating role of academic self-efficacy in this relationship. The participants consisted of 378 (164 females, 214 males) Syrian refugee high school students. The data were collected through the Dispositional Hope Scale, the Multidimensional Social Support Scale, the Academic Self-efficacy Scale, and a demographic information form. A structural equation modeling and a mediation analysis based on bootstrapping technique were performed. Findings showed that family support had a significant direct effect on hope of Syrian refugee adolescents. In addition, family support indirectly affected hope of Syrian refugee adolescents via academic self-efficacy. Increase in family support led to an increase in academic self-efficacy, and high academic self-efficacy contributed to higher hope. On the other hand, the direct effect of peer support on hope and academic self-efficacy of Syrian refugee adolescents were not significant. This study pointed out that family support is more critical than peer support to improve academic self-efficacy beliefs and hope in refugee adolescents. Social workers may benefit from these findings in their practices with refugee adolescents who feel hopeless because they play critical roles in facilitating the adaptation process, improving the well-being, and addressing social or educational problems of refugees.