Describing the phenomenon of "Living as a refugee" among Syrian university student refugees

This study focused on university student refugees' experiences related to their refugee background and the phenomenon of "being a refugee." Its objective was to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by refugees during their migration experiences, acculturation processes, and interactions with local society members. Additionally, it aimed to determine their reactions to these experiences, the strategies they employed, and the benefits they derived from them. A phenomenological approach was chosen to understand refugee experiences through their subjective accounts. To achieve this, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 university students aged 18 and above (5 females, 5 males). The interviews lasted between 25-45 minutes (M=32.52). Participants were identified through snowball sampling from university refugee student communities. Thematic analysis was employed in the study's analysis process. Initially, audio recordings were transcribed, and resulting texts were repeatedly read. Subsequently, coding was performed, and sub-themes and overarching themes emerged. After the generation of themes, two experts were consulted to discuss sections requiring revision. Following further readings, the themes reached their final form. As a result of the conducted analyses, nine fundamental themes were identified. These themes are as follows: "We couldn't live a good life" - The challenges of migration, "Struggling just to survive," Not understanding Turkish makes daily life a struggle, Xenophobia towards Syrians, Hiding Syrian identity: Protecting oneself against discrimination, It's like I'm in prison" - Effects of government policies and legal systems, The future aspirations of refugees, Finding ways to cope with challenging experiences, and strength or agency in the face of challenging experiences. The generated themes were discussed within the framework of strength-based approaches and the cycle of mutual constitution, drawing upon existing literature.