From Displacement to Belonging: How Social Integration Shapes Psychological Resilience and Self-Compassion in Migrant Children

Aylin Arici, Taner Artan and Fatih Cebeci

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2026, vol. 72, issue 3, 471-482

Abstract: Purpose: Forced migration due to war and conflict has profound psychological effects on children. Psychological resilience and self-compassion are essential for the well-being of migrant children; however, the role of social integration in shaping this relationship remains unclear. This study examines the mediating effect of social integration on the relationship between psychological resilience and self-compassion among Syrian migrant children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 463 Syrian migrant children aged 11 to 18 years living in Türkiye. Data were collected using the Children and Youth Psychological Resilience Scale-12, the Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form, and the Social Integration Scale. Mediation analysis was performed using the PROCESS macro for SPSS. Results: The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between psychological resilience and self-compassion, as well as between psychological resilience and social integration. A weaker but significant relationship was observed between self-compassion and social integration. Mediation analysis showed that social integration fully mediates the effect of psychological resilience on self-compassion. Conclusion: The results indicate that social integration plays a crucial role in enhancing the self-compassion of migrant children by strengthening psychological resilience. These findings highlight the importance of social policies and interventions aimed at fostering social integration to support the mental health of migrant children.

Keywords: migrant children; psychological resilience; self-compassion; social integration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:72:y:2026:i:3:p:471-482

DOI: 10.1177/00207640251368025

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