Psychological Symptomatology and Aggression Patterns Among Syrian Refugee Children in Jordan: Social Work Perspective

This chapter offers an examination of the challenges faced by Syrian refugees in Jordan. Jordan has long been marked by conflict and instability in the region leading to large numbers of refugees seeking safety and stability in adjoining countries. Studies revealed that refugees often suffer from various mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and somatization. The process of relocating to a new place exposes them to various stressors that can cause mental illness. These stressors include the loss of social support, cultural and religious identity, confusion about their identity, acculturation, and cultural adjustment. The stages of migration are pre-migration, in transit, and post-migration; refugees face numerous obstacles, including difficulties accessing basic services, social isolation, and vulnerability to physical and psychological violence, sexual and gender-based violence, and trauma and loss. The current study was conducted at an elementary school located in Salt Town, Jordan. It focused on Syrian refugee children in the sixth grade, who were mostly 12 years old, comprising both boys and girls. The following research instruments were deployed: the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and Aggression Questionnaire (AQ). The results showed gender differences: boys had more significant symptomatology than girls across most psychological deminssion. Additionally, the study found that boys exhibited higher levels of aggression than girls. In conclusion, some methods of culturally sensitive intervention by social workers with Syrian children refugees are discussed.