A systematic review of the factors influencing the risky behaviors of syrian forced migrant children and adolescents in Turkey

Abstract

Risky behaviors are defined as emotional and behavioral problems that harm mental and physical health. The present study aimed to systematically review and synthesize research investigating the risky behaviors of Syrian children living in Turkey. The study was conducted through a systematic review of articles published in the Scopus and Web of Science database between 2013 and the present day, and met the STROBE reporting criteria. The inclusion criteria for studies in the systematic review were established, and studies that focused on Syrian-origin forced migrant child-adolescents aged 7–18 years and investigated risky behaviors without a clinical diagnosis and treatment purpose were included. Four studies with a sample of 790 children were examined. According to the findings of this study, there is a measurement issue for risky behaviors. In this study, there are numerous factors influencing risky behaviors, including those related to traumatic life events due to war, psychopathology, acculturation-related factors, and sociodemographic factors. The most significant finding highlighted in the study is the need for methodological improvements and context-specific studies to be repeated in future research, to ensure statistical generalizability and clinical implications in research on this subject.

Plain Language Summary

Studies on the factors influencing risky behaviors in children and adolescent forced migrants have been conducted using diverse research designs, questions, hypotheses, and results. Risky behaviors are defined as emotional and behavioral problems that harm mental and physical health. The present study aimed to systematically review and synthesize research investigating the risky behaviors of Syrian children living in Turkey. According to the findings of this study, there is a measurement issue for risky behaviors. In this study, there are numerous factors influencing risky behaviors, including those related to traumatic life events due to war, psychopathology, acculturation-related factors, and sociodemographic factors.