Abstract
Objective: This study tested the applicability of social control theory to Somali refugees in resettlement, taking into account the potential impact of migration on social bonds. Hypotheses were as follows: (a) Experiences of adversity and weak social bonds would predict both antisocial behavior and radicalization to violence; (b) the relationship between adversity and these outcome variables would be mediated by weak social bonds; and (c) mediational models would be invariant across time and gender. Method: Data for the present study were collected as part of the Somali Youth Longitudinal Study. A total of 532 participants, aged 18 to 30, were recruited from five North American communities with high concentrations of Somalis. Participants completed self-report measures assessing a range of attitudes and experiences, including exposure to traumatic events, discrimination, social bonds, antisocial behavior, and radicalization to violence. Results: Hypotheses were supported by analyses; some social bonds mediated the relationship between adversity and outcome variables. Specifically, social cohesion and social disconnection fully mediated the relationship between discrimination (the sole remaining adversity variable in the best fitted path model) and both outcome variables. Results were invariant over time and partially by gender. Conclusions: Social control theory appears to offer an explanatory model for different types of antisocial attitudes and behavior among Somalis resettled in the United States and Canada. Results underscore the importance of attending to both the migration context and social bonds formed in resettlement when designing violence prevention programs for refugee and immigrant young adults.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 18-29 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Psychology of Violence |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 2020 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This research was supported by a grant from the Minerva Initiative of the Department of Defense and the National Institute of Justice.
Funding Information:
This research was supported by Department of Defense Minerva Research Initiative (N00014-13-1-0243) and the National Institute of Justice (2012-ZA-BX-0004 and 2014-ZA-BX-0001). The findings and conclusions expressed in this report are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Department of Justice. The authors have no financial or other conflicts of interest regarding this report. We thank Naima Agalab of the Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center, who has been a partner in our work with the Somali community from the beginning and has provided leadership and training in their efforts to build community leadership teams in other cities. We thank Somali community advisors Farah Aw-Osman, Fatuma Hussein, Sharif Mohammed, and Rilwan Osman for their guidance and invaluable contribution to this project. We also thank Osob Issa for her efforts on recruitment and obtaining consent. Finally, we thank the community youth who took time to share their stories.
Funding Information:
This research was supported by a grant from the Minerva Initiative of the Department of Defense and the National Institute of Justice. This research was supported by Department of Defense Minerva Research Initiative (N00014-13-1-0243) and the National Institute of Justice (2012-ZA-BX-0004 and 2014-ZA-BX-0001). The findings and conclusions expressed in this report are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Department of Justice. The authors have no financial or other conflicts of interest regarding this report. We thank Naima Agalab of the Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center, who has been a partner in our work with the Somali community from the beginning and has provided leadership and training in their efforts to build community leadership teams in other cities. We thank Somali community advisors Farah Aw-Osman, Fatuma Hussein, Sharif Mohammed, and Rilwan Osman for their guidance and invaluable contribution to this project. We also thank Osob Issa for her efforts on recruitment and obtaining consent. Finally, we thank the community youth who took time to share their stories.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 American Psychological Association.
Keywords
- Discrimination
- Refugee
- Social bonds
- Violence
