Thesis Research on Refugee health and integration

PROJECT OVERVIEW AND GOALS:

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The purpose of this project was to understand the major challenges to integration that refugees in the US face, as well as how different factors affect refugees' stress coping mechanisms. This was my first time coordinating and recruiting study participants. I wrote and administered quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews, which also served as a foundation for my doctoral research on refugee integration. My goal was to publish this research and spread awareness about these topics. 

 

The pictures below come from my presentation of the study's results, and an excerpt of the stress survey is included at the end of this page.

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MY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Research planning, coordination, and networking

• Selecting research methods and writing surveys and interviews

• Conducting research

• Analyzing and presenting my findings

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METHODS

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I combined quantitative surveys based on the Cohen Stress Scale with semi-structured qualitative interviews. These two data sources correspond, respectively, to the two main questions of my research project: how do refugees cope with stress and what are challenges they face when integrating into American society. I conducted this research at two different refugee food drives in Cleveland, with the help of translators. Participants were given gift cards for their time.

KEY FINDINGS:

• Most participants exhibited signs of high stress levels and PTSD (~66+%)

• The majority of participants (~57%) did not feel their stress coping mechanisms were effective

• The language barrier was the main obstacle to refugee integration

• Almost all participants or someone in their family had health issues, which is why they were relocated to areas near the Cleveland Clinic

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