Social ecological determinants of the mental distress among Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Turkey: A transnational perspective

Refugees are frequently shown to have worse mental health outcomes than non-displaced populations. This fact is commonly attributed to traumatic pre-displacement experiences. While important, the focus on trauma risks overlooking the role socioeconomic living-conditions in different arrival and transit contexts can play in determining refugees' mental distress. Building on the ecological model of refugee distress, we investigate how social ecological conditions relate to the mental distress of Syrians in Lebanon and Turkey. Both countries present important spaces of arrival and transit for millions of displaced Syrians, each with a specific historical, political, social and economic context.