Occupational Balance in Refugees: The Role of Well-Being, Participation, and Perceived Discrimination

Kardelen Yıldırım (), Gülşah Zengin Yazıcı, Beyzanur Demirci, Sümeyye Sarışahin and Sedef Şahin
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Kardelen Yıldırım: Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bezmialem Vakif University, 34065 Istanbul, Turkey
Gülşah Zengin Yazıcı: Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Occupational Therapy, Bezmialem Vakif University, 34065 Istanbul, Turkey
Beyzanur Demirci: Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bezmialem Vakif University, 34065 Istanbul, Turkey
Sümeyye Sarışahin: Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bezmialem Vakif University, 34065 Istanbul, Turkey
Sedef Şahin: Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, 06230 Ankara, Turkey

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 7, 1-19

Abstract: Although the experiences of forced migration among refugees have been widely studied, the relationships between occupational balance, well-being, participation, and perceived discrimination remain poorly understood. This study aimed to examine these interrelationships and to explore the predictive role of occupational balance in each domain. Data were collected between February and March 2025 from 260 Syrian refugees aged 18–65 using validated instruments: the Occupational Balance Questionnaire, Personal Well-Being Index–Adult, Participation Scale, and Perceived Discrimination Scale. Occupational balance was significantly correlated with well-being, participation, and perceived discrimination (all p < 0.001). However, regression analyses revealed that only well-being (β = 0.114, p < 0.001) and participation (β = −0.107, p = 0.002) significantly predicted occupational balance; perceived discrimination had no direct effect. These findings highlight the critical role of occupational balance in fostering psychosocial integration. Enhancing refugees’ well-being and participation may support their adaptation processes. Community-based, culturally responsive interventions that target these domains could promote social inclusion, continuity of roles, and long-term psychosocial stability among displaced populations in host societies.

Keywords: discrimination; occupational balance; participation; refugees; Syrian people; well-being (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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