About this paper symposium

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Panel information
Panel 22. Social Relationships

Paper #1
Refugee Children Differ from Other Children on a Measure of Negative Self Worth
Author information	Role
Lina Maria Lopez, Concordia, Canada	Presenting author
María Dilia Mieles Barrera, PhD, Universidad del Magdalena, Colombia	Non-presenting author
Ryan Persram, Toromo Metropolitan University, Canada	Non-presenting author
Melissa Commisso, Concordia University, Canada	Non-presenting author
William Bukowski, Concordia University, Canada	Non-presenting author
Abstract
Introduction: Theory and research on the well-being of refugee children has identified the self-concept as an important domain for assessment. The argument is that multiple facets of the experience of being a refugee lead to processes of self-assessment and internalization that are likely to have adverse effects on the formation of positive self-views. Current evidence supports this emphasis on the self. Studies conducted and reviewed by Motti (2019), for example, have revealed the importance of self-measures as predictors of well-being for refugees. Our study is intended as an extension of these prior studies. We assess the degree to which refugee children differ from other children on measures of the self that are specifically targeted to fit the experiences of refugee children. We used measures that would distinguish between positive and negative features of the self and would distinguish between specific and general measures of functioning. An important feature of our study derives from the recognition that refugee status often intersects with other conditions such as poverty. Accordingly, we compared the refugee children to other children who lived in their same low SES neighborhood and attended the same school. Measure and Methods: The participants were 177 fourth and fifth grade children in a low SES neighborhood in a small city in Colombia. The participants included 100 children born and raised in this community, 57 refugees who had come to Colombia from Venezuela, and 20 internal migrants who were from other communities in Colombia. Each participant completed a multiple item self-concept scale that included measures of the positive social competence (example item is “Most of my classmates like to be with me."), negative social competence ("I have difficulty making friends."), positive general self-worth (="There are a lot of things about myself that I am proud of."), and negative general self-worth ("There are many things about me that I would change if I could."). Analyses and Results: The analysis of variance was used to examine differences between the three groups of children on each of the two sets of measures. With the positive and negative social competence scores, no differences were observed between the three groups. For all three groups the mean for the measure the positive social competence was higher than the mean for negative social competence score. In contrast, with the positive and negative general self-worth scores, differences were observed between the three groups. Two findings were of particular importance. With each group the mean of the negative self-worth scale was higher than the mean of the positive general self-worth scale (means = 3.6 and 4.1for the community-based group, 3.9 and 4.1 for the internal migrants, and 3.5 and 4.3 for the refugee children. This difference was statistically significant for the refugee children. Discussion : These finding reveal the stronger negative self-views for refugee children on a broad measure of the self-concept. To the degree that negative self-views impede motivation and promote internalizing problems, it may be these differences in the self-concept that put refugee children at risk for maladjustment.

Paper #2
The Moderating Role of Positive Social-Self-Perception on the Stability of Discrimination-Based Exclusion Among Refugee Children
Author information	Role
Melissa Commisso, Concordia University, Canada	Presenting author
Lina Maria Lopez, Concordia University, Canada	Non-presenting author
William Bukowski, Concordia University, Canada	Non-presenting author
María Dilia Mieles Barrera, PhD, Universidad del Magdalena, Colombia	Non-presenting author
Abstract
Introduction: Migration and refugee crises are pressing global issues, intersecting complex humanitarian, geopolitical, and human rights concerns. For young refugees, establishing a sense of belonging during early resettlement is paramount to their well-being. However, once resettled, experiences of discrimination and exclusion can significantly impact their mental health, leading to isolation, alienation, and various mental health issues. This paper investigates whether positive social self-perceptions can mitigate the stability of discrimination-based exclusion among three migrant groups: native-born children, internal migrants, and refugees. Drawing on a resiliency perspective, we hypothesize that a positive social self-concept would be particularly beneficial for refugees due to their heightened vulnerability to discrimination and exclusion. Moreover, their unique experiences may foster an important kind of resilience, enabling them to use internal resources, such as a positive social self-concept, to buffer against further experiences of discrimination and exclusion Methods: The sample included 177 participants from Santa Marta, Colombia. The participants were school-aged children in grades four and five. Data were collected across two time points, spaced eight weeks apart. Discrimination based exclusion and positive social-self-concept were assessed using self-reports. Migrant status was assessed using parent reports. Three groups were identified: Santa Marta, which includes children who were born in Santa Marta, Internal Migrants, which includes children who were born in Colombia but in a city other than Santa Marta and Venezuelan Refugees, which includes children who fled from Venezuela to Santa Marta. Results: A multigroup analysis was conducted in two steps to assess whether positive social-self-concept moderates the stability of discrimination-based exclusion across the three groups of migrants. First, we conducted a path analysis for each of the three groups. Analyses revealed that the social self-concept did not moderate the stability between time one and time two discrimination-based exclusion for the Santa Marta (B=.726,SE=.313,P=.726) or the Internal Migrant group (B=.528,SE=.483,P=.275). However, the social self-concept moderated the stability between time one and time two discrimination-based exclusion for the Venezuelan Refugee group (B=-.594,SE=.069,P=.00). Second, equality constraints were used to set the coefficient for the interaction between time one discrimination-based exclusion and positive social self-concept to be equal across the three groups. The chi-square value of the constrained model (χ2(df, 8)=525.784) was greater than the unconstrained model (χ2(df, 6)=519.295). The chi square difference (6.489) exceeded the critical value of 5.991, indicating that the effect was present for the Venezuelan refugees, but not the other groups. Conclusion: Our findings show that refugee children who experience discrimination-based exclusion at Time 1 were less likely to experience continued exclusion at Time 2 if they had a positive social self-perception. By fostering a strong sense of self-worth and confidence, refugee children can engage in social behaviors that promote inclusion and reduce the likelihood of future discrimination. These findings underscore the importance of supporting the development of a positive social self-concept in refugee children as a key factor in breaking the cycle of exclusion.

Paper #3
Food insecurity and motivation for peer aggression: A replication and extension with youth in Colombia
Author information	Role
Dr. Nicole Dryburgh, Offord Centre for Child Studies and Harvard University, Canada	Presenting author
Allison H. MacNeil, McGill University, Canada	Non-presenting author
Lina Maria Lopez, Concordia University, Canada	Non-presenting author
5. Maria Dilia Mieles Barrer, Universidad del Magdalena, Colombia	Non-presenting author
Abstract
Food insecurity—having limited access to adequate amounts of food that is healthy, safe, and culturally appropriate—is a significant public health problem in Colombia, where over 30% of youth currently lack food. Past research shows that greater food insecurity is linked to more mental health problems such as internalizing symptoms, but findings are mixed for externalizing behaviours such as aggression. The current study sought to replicate previous research that found greater food insecurity was related to more aggression and extend this research by testing differences by motivation for aggression, i.e., whether the aggression was reactive or proactive. Data were collected from 141 children in grades 4 and 5 in Colombia and their parents and teachers. Parents completed ratings of household food insecurity. Teachers provided reports of reactive and proactive aggression. At the bivariate level, greater food insecurity was related to more reactive, r = .28, p < .001, and proactive aggression, r = .18, p = .03. In a regression model with each form of aggression, greater reactive, β = .27, p = .01, but not proactive aggression, β = .01, p = .95, was associated with more food insecurity. These associations held while controlling for gender and migration background. This study addresses mixed findings by replicating associations between food insecurity and aggression and extends this work by showing stronger links for aggression that was reactive, rather than proactive, in form. These findings highlight the importance of considering motivation for behaviour while providing additional evidence for food insecurity as key problem implicated in adjustment difficulties for youth.

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