Determination of the Mental Adjustment Status of Refugee Children in Primary School Age: The Case of Turkey

Abstract

Introduction:

This research was conducted as a descriptive study to determine the mental adjustment status of refugee children aged 6 to 14 in Duzce.

Method:

The sample of the study consisted of 163 refugee children. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with primary caregivers of children using the Hacettepe Mental Adjustment Scale. The collected data were analyzed in the SPSS 22.0 database using percentages, Mann Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis H, and chi-square tests.

Results:

Adjustment problems were detected in 25.8% of the children participating and behavioral problems were detected in over half (52.4%).

Discussion:

In line with the findings obtained from the research, it has been suggested to form a team of mental health experts, including psychiatric nurses, who have adopted the principles of transcultural care to make early diagnosis and effective treatment of psychiatric diseases of refugee children.

Keywords

refugee children immigration mental adjustment transcultural health

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