We only use your email address to send you the newsletter and to see how many people are opening our emails. A full privacy policy can be viewed here. You can change your mind at any time and update your preferences or unsubscribe.

© Nathalie Bertrams/GAGE

Compounding inequalities: Adolescent psychosocial wellbeing and resilience among refugee and host communities in Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic

03.02.22 | Jordan

Bodily integrity and freedom from violence | COVID-19 | Conflict-affected contexts | Economic empowerment | Education and learning | Health, Nutrition and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) | Humanitarian | Psychosocial well-being | Social protection | Voice and agency

Authors

Nicola Jones, Sarah Baird, Bassam Abu Hamad, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Erin Oakley, Manisha Shah, Jude Sajdi and Kathryn M. Yount

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated risk-mitigation strategies have altered the social contexts in which adolescents in low- and middle-income countries live. We investigate the extent to which the pandemic has compounded pre-existing social inequalities among adolescents in Jordan, and the role support structures play in promoting resilience. Our analysis leverages longitudinal quantitative survey data and in-depth qualitative interviews, with over 3,000 Syrian refugees, stateless Palestinians and vulnerable Jordanians, living in camps, host communities and informal tented settlements.

The pandemic has resulted in severe economic and service disruptions with far-reaching and heterogenous effects on adolescent wellbeing. Pre-existing social inequalities among refugee adolescents affected by forced displacement have been compounded, with related disruptions to services and social networks. To achieve Sustainable Development Goal targets requires interventions that target the urgent needs of the most vulnerable adolescents while addressing population-level root causes and determinants of psychosocial wellbeing and resilience for all adolescent girls and boys.

Suggested citation

Jones, N., Baird, S., Abu Hamad, B., Bhutta, Z.A., Oakley, E., Shah, M., Sajdi, J. and Yount, K. (2022) ‘Compounding inequalities: Adolescent psychosocial wellbeing and resilience among refugee and host communities in Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic.’ PLoS ONE 17(2): e0261773. (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0261773)


Related publications

Reports
18.09.23
Investing in adolescent girls: Key changes in the bilateral donor funding landscape - 2021 update
Education and learning
Cross-country
Read more
18.09.23 | Education and learning | Reports | Cross-country
Investing in adolescent girls: Key changes in the bilateral donor funding landscape - 2021 update
Read more
Policy briefs
15.09.23
Tackling ‘taboo’ culture to improve adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Jordan
Health, Nutrition and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH)
Jordan
Read more
15.09.23 | Health, Nutrition and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) | Policy briefs | Jordan
Tackling ‘taboo’ culture to improve adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Jordan
Read more
Policy briefs
13.09.23
Adolescent sexual and reproductive health for out-of-school youth: lessons from a pilot intervention with young people with disabilities in Ethiopia
Health, Nutrition and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH)
Ethiopia
Read more
13.09.23 | Health, Nutrition and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) | Policy briefs | Ethiopia
Adolescent sexual and reproductive health for out-of-school youth: lessons from a pilot intervention with young people with disabilities in Ethiopia
Read more