The Prevalence of Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties Among Syrian and Ukrainian Refugee Children Aged 2 to 6 Years Old in the Netherlands and Belgium, and the Role of Family Separation

Abstract

There is a noticeable gap in the existing research regarding the emotional and behavioral difficulties faced by young refugee children. Therefore, the focus of this study was to examine the prevalence of emotional and behavioral difficulties among young refugee children, aged 2 to 6 years, from Syria and Ukraine, who are currently residing in the Netherlands or Belgium. Additionally, we investigated the role of experienced family separation in these emotional and behavioral difficulties. In a cross-sectional survey, data was collected from 25 participants (M = 35.6 years, SD = 8.4; 5 men, 20 women) regarding their children’s emotional and behavioral difficulties (M = 4.29 years, SD = 1.3; 11 boys, 14 girls) and experiences of family separation. Participants were originally from Ukraine (56%) and Syria (44%), residing in Belgium (4%) or the Netherlands (96%). Descriptive research examined the prevalence of difficulties, followed by an independent sample t-test to explore differences in symptom prevalence between boys and girls. Multiple regression analysis explored the association between family separation and emotional and behavioral difficulties. Contrary to our expectations, the prevalence of emotional and behavioral difficulties among refugee children was comparable to that of their non-refugee peers, with 8% exceeding the clinical cut-off. The independent sample t-test found no significant differences in emotional or behavioral difficulties between boys and girls. Of the total sample, 26.1% had gone through experiences of family separation. Multiple regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between family separation and emotional and behavioral problems, but it was not statistically significant. This study helps to map the prevalence of emotional and behavioral difficulties in young refugee children, as well as the impact of family separation. The findings highlight the potential resilience of young refugee children, as well as the need for larger, more extensive studies to gain a more reliable and comprehensive understanding of their emotional and behavioral challenges. This knowledge is critical for designing targeted interventions to improve the well-being of refugee children.