Eritrean Asylum Seekers in Israel: Traumatic Experience, Social Contacts with Eritreans and Israelis, Psychological Well-Being, and Sociocultural Adaptation

Abstract

In this study, we examined the connections between exposure to traumatic events, contacts with the majority society and the ethnic group, psychological well-being, and sociocultural adaptation among Eritrean asylum seekers in Israel (n = 132). The obtained results demonstrate the long-term destructive effect of exposure to traumatic events on the psychological well-being but not necessarily on the sociocultural adaptation of asylum seekers and emphasize the need for accessible mental health services for this population. Moreover, our findings highlight the importance of positive social contacts with the majority society for the psychological well-being and sociocultural adaptation of asylum seekers.

Keywords:

• Eritrean asylums seekers in Israel
• positive and negative social contacts
• psychological well-being
• satisfaction with life
• sociocultural adaptation
• traumatic experience

Notes

1 Migrants and Refugees (2021). https://migrants-refugees.va/it/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/11/2021-CP-Eritrea.pdf

2 Danish Institute for International Studies (2020). https://www.diis.dk/en/research/eritrean-refugees-struggle-after-the-peace-agreement-with-ethiopia.

3 Population and immigration authority of Israel (2021). https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/generalpage/foreign_workers_stats/he/ZARIM_q4_2020.pdf

4 The Hotline for Refugees and Migrants (2021). https://hotline.org.il/en/refugees-and-asylum-seekers-en/

Additional information

Funding

The study was funded by the Sara Peleg and Yosi Katan Research Grants at the Tel Aviv University School of Social Work.