@article{Group-Based:2021,
      recid = {2021},
      author = {Bunn, Mary Elizabeth},
      title = {Restoring Social Bonds: Group-Based Treatment and the  Social Resources of Syrian Refugees in Jordan},
      publisher = {The University of Chicago},
      school = {Ph.D.},
      address = {2019-08},
      pages = {265},
      abstract = {War, political terror and forced migration impairs social  functioning and erodes social relationships. Displacement  magnifies vulnerability by separating people from family,  meaningful roles and connection to community. Though the  presence or absence of social resources can affect a  person’s life and wellbeing after war, there has been  limited empirical investigation into the social lives of  refugees including interventions that may foster the  rebuilding of such resources in exile. While group-based  treatment is conceptualized as an ideal format for  rebuilding social support and connection, there has been  very limited investigation into the social and  interpersonal processes and outcomes in group-based  treatment with survivors of war, political terror and  forced migration and no studies focused on Syrian refugees.  

The purpose of this qualitative dissertation study was to  explore the social-relational losses that result from war,  political terror and forced migration among Syrian refugees  in Jordan. A central goal of the study was also to examine  whether social connection and cohesion might be conduits to  healing in group-based interventions. In addition to the  more commonly-studied mental health outcomes of treatment,  the study investigates how group-based treatment may  contribute to the development of social and community  resources for group members. Working in partnership with  the Center for Victims of Torture in Jordan, this study  focused on the experiences of Syrian urban refugees in  Jordan who participated in a 10 week interdisciplinary  group treatment program. In total, 31 interviews were  conducted in Arabic with Syrian men and women. Thematic  analysis was conducted to identify themes, patterns and  processes across the interviews. Findings are organized  into a two-paper format and the dissertation concludes with  a discussion of implications for practice, research and  policy. 

In the first paper, Ambiguous losses: The  social-relational and place-based consequences of war and  forced migration, I examine the social lives of Syrian  refugees in Jordan and losses resulting from war and forced  migration using a lens of ambiguous loss. I discuss four  primary domains of ambiguous loss: loss of security, loss  of cultural roles and identities, loss of cultural values  and practices and loss of social spaces. 

In the second  paper, Relational processes and experiences in group-based  treatment for Syrian refugees in Jordan, I shift the focus  of attention to group-based intervention and examine  social-relational experiences in the groups. Facilitated by  two core processes, it was found that group members  developed close and caring relationships. Both group  processes were imbued with cultural meaning and the group  relationships functioned as an important lever for other  therapeutic benefits, especially gaining a sense of hope,  meaning, and strengthening family relationships.

Findings  from the dissertation are expected to strengthen  understanding of the impact of war and forced migration on  social-relational resources, the role of relationships in  healing, and the promise of group-based treatment as a way  of fostering social relationships.},
      url = {http://knowledge.uchicago.edu/record/2021},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.6082/uchicago.2021},
}