Syrian Refugee Parents Resettling In Canada

Abstract

The Syrian conflict that began in March 2011 is one of the most brutal conflicts in the post-World War II era. This recent conflict has prompted action from several high-income countries, with Canada becoming an important host country for Syrian refugees. In Canada, over 40,000 Syrian refugees arrived between November 2015 and January 2017. The challenges and stressors of immigration are exacerbated for refugees, but especially for refugee parents. My dissertation assesses the factors associated with different domains of integration of Syrian refugee parents resettling in Canada. This research investigated how the perception of being treated with respect is associated with these newcomers' sense of belonging to Canada, explored the changes in the acquisition of language proficiencies over time since their entry to Canada and evaluated the duration of enrollment and satisfaction associated with government-funded English or French language classes. Method: This study employed a cross-sectional design. A total of 540 Syrian refugee parents, with at least one child below 18 years of age, who resettled in Ontario, Canada at the time of the interview were recruited. Individual interviews were conducted separately for the mothers and the fathers using structured telephone interviews with a fluent Arabic-speaking Research Assistant in a Levantine dialect that the participants readily understood. Consent was obtained from all participants. Statistical analyses including descriptive, bivariate, and generalized linear mixed model regressions were performed to address the study objectives. Results: The results demonstrated that, when examined separately, both individuals and their spouses' perceptions of being treated with respect by Canadians were associated with a sense of belonging to Canada. Additionally, the findings revealed that participants' Canadian Language Benchmark levels significantly improved with each additional year spent in Canada. Furthermore, participants' attendance in language classes was significantly lower for those who had a higher level of the Canadian Language Benchmark upon arrival. Conclusions: The findings provide valuable insights into the integration process in a new country, emphasizing the challenges and opportunities these families face, thus supporting their successful integration into Canadian society. Keywords: Syrian refugee, spouse, being respected, sense of belonging, language benchmark level, language classes, and time in Canada.