Denial of host country identity, depressive symptoms, and well-being among young syrian adults: The role of stigma and challenged belonging

While integrating into new societies, immigrants may face several identity related challenges. One of these challenges is having an aspect of one's identity (e.g., cultural identity) being unacknowledged or denied (i.e., identity denial). Even if immigrants feel that being part of the host country is an important part of their identity, citizens of the host country may not perceive them as such. This experience of identity denial could be particularly relevant to young immigrants who arrived in the host society at an age that is critical for identity development. The current study investigates the association between experiences of Turkish identity denial, depressive symptoms, and psychological well-being among young Syrian adults living in Turkey. Drawing on distinct literature on identity denial and stigma, we examine the mediating role of a challenged sense of belonging along with the perceptions and anticipation of stigma about refugees in the relationship between identity denial, depressive symptoms, and psychological well-being. Data for this study were collected online from a sample of 156 young (18-30 year old) Syrian adults living in Turkey. The findings suggest that identity denial is positively associated with depressive symptoms and negatively associated with psychological well-being through perceived stigma and anticipated stigma. Moreover, our findings suggest that having a challenged sense of belonging is another independent mechanism through which identity denial is associated with depressive symptoms and psychological well-being (parallel mediation). Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.