Beyond Individual Coping: The Role of Social Capital in Community-Based Mental Health Support for Displaced Somali Youth

Hyojin Im (), Shinhye Lee, Abdulkadir Warsame and Maimuna Isse
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Hyojin Im: School of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
Shinhye Lee: Department of Social Welfare, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
Abdulkadir Warsame: Tawakal Medical Centre, Nairobi 51529-00200, Kenya
Maimuna Isse: Tawakal Medical Centre, Nairobi 51529-00200, Kenya

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 5, 1-23

Abstract: Somali refugee youth face intersecting stressors related to displacement, economic hardship, and systemic exclusion, yet their coping strategies remain understudied. This study examines the psychosocial distress, coping mechanisms, and help-seeking behaviors of Somali refugee youth in Nairobi’s urban displacement context using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative analyses assess the prevalence of stressors, coping strategies, and perceived support, while qualitative responses provide insight into lived experiences. Findings reveal that 72% of participants reported distress linked to economic insecurity (15.9%), family separation (16.9%), or refugee-related adversities (13.2%). Religious coping (59.5%) and self-care practices (60.5%) were the most frequently used strategies, while 15.8% relied on avoidance-based methods. Help-seeking patterns showed that 76.7% of participants were willing to seek help in general, but only 40.7% did so for emotional issues, with mothers and same-sex friends being primary sources. Regression analysis (R 2 = 0.507, p < 0.001) showed that scope of community (β = 0.417, p = 0.001), trust in bonding social capital (β = 0.343, p = 0.012), and perceived community violence (β = 0.346, p = 0.003) were positively associated with perceived support. In contrast, help-seeking intention (β = −0.206, p = 0.049) was negatively associated with perceived support. Other variables—including religious coping, emotional coping, age, gender, and bridging trust—were not significant predictors. These findings underscore the need for community-driven mental health interventions that strengthen existing social structures while integrating culturally adapted service models. Leveraging social capital is essential for fostering sustainable, accessible, and community-based mental health support for displaced Somali youth.

Keywords: urban refugees; Somali youth; social capital; help-seeking; social support; stress and coping; mental health and psychosocial support (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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