A Scoping Review of Instruments Used in Measuring Social Support among Refugees in Resettlement

Godfred O. Boateng (), Karin Wachter, Roseanne C. Schuster, Tanya L. Burgess and Mary Bunn
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Godfred O. Boateng: School of Global Health, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
Karin Wachter: School of Social Work, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
Roseanne C. Schuster: School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85069, USA
Tanya L. Burgess: School of Social Work, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
Mary Bunn: Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 6, 1-25

Abstract: This study aimed to systematically review current research on the application of existing social support scales in research with refugees in resettlement, assess their quality, and identify gaps in measurement to enhance research and practice. A scoping review was conducted on the extant literature published until March 2023. A team of researchers conducted search, sorting, and data extraction processes following best practices for scale development and validation. Of the 1185 studies collected from the search process, 41 articles were retained in the final analysis, from which 17 distinct social support instruments used in research with resettled refugees were identified. An assessment of all 17 instruments showed the presence of one or more limitations associated with construct, criterion, convergent, and/or discriminant validity. Test of reliability was assessed in all studies, with a range of 0.80 to 0.90. Our findings show that most of the research evaluating social support among resettled refugees is conducted without measurement instruments adequately validated in the resettlement context. This analysis highlights the need for rigorously developed social support scales that reflect the lived experiences, needs, and priorities of resettled refugees.

Keywords: social support; refugee; resettlement; measurement; validity; reliability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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