The Relative Impacts of Uncertainty and Mothers' Communication on Hopelessness Among Palestinian Refugee Youth

This study applies the Entropy Model of Uncertainty (Hirsh, Mar, & Peterson, 2012) and the stress‐buffering hypothesis (for review, see Hegelson, 2003) to examine the experience of uncertainty among adolescent Palestinians living in refugee camps in Lebanon. It then tests the role of mothers' uncertainty‐related communication for adolescent hopelessness. One hundred and sixty‐two adolescents across 2 refugee camps in Lebanon participated in the study. Results support the existence of elevated levels of uncertainty about both personal and macrosecurity, show an association between uncertainty regarding personal security and levels of hopelessness, and suggest that uncertainty's negative impact may overwhelm the role of mothers' supportive communication as a buffer against hopelessness. Interestingly, the data also suggest surprisingly little hopelessness in this population.
Source: American Journal of Orthopsychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research