The relation of sense of community in sport on resilience and cultural adjustment for youth refugees

ABSTRACT

This study examined associations between a sense of community (SOC) and both resilience and cultural adjustment for resettled youth refugees who participate in a refugee soccer club. Though related to overall wellness (e.g. academic success, emotional safety, self-sufficiency), research on factors that promote resilience and cultural adjustment for youth refugees is limited. Participants in a youth soccer club specifically for refugees completed a questionnaire that assessed their feelings of SOC, resilience and perceived cultural adjustment. Multiple regression analysis indicates that SOC is a significant positive predictor of both resilience and cultural adjustment. As participant SOC increases, so does their resilience and perceived cultural adjustment. Results extend previous research on SOC by noting the potential benefits of SOC within sport specifically for youth refugees, as well as the potential value of youth sport programmes for refugees.

KEYWORDS:

• Belonging
• acculturation
• resiliency
• youth sport
• resettled refugees

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Eric Legg http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3575-1053

Allison Ross http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9645-7691