Exploring xenophobic tendencies: Humanitarian aid workers engaged with migrants in Turkey

The study aimed to ascertain the extent of xenophobia among humanitarian aid workers engaged in supporting migrants. The research adopted a quantitative approach, utilizing a xenophobia scale developed by Veer, Yakushko, and Ommundsen, which was subsequently adapted into Turkish by Özmete, Yıldırım, and Duru for data collection. The study enlisted the participation of 451 individuals employed in the field of humanitarian aid in Turkey, comprising workers from various non-governmental organizations, international aid agencies, and public institutions. The primary objective was to assess the xenophobia levels of the participants, with calculations based on responses to inquiries concerning socio-demographic variables and attitudes toward migrants. Subsequent analysis involved comparing mean scores and conducting regression analyses to ascertain whether responses to socio-demographic factors and migrant-related questions could predict xenophobic tendencies. Furthermore, the study identified several socio-demographic factors influencing xenophobia, including age, educational attainment, income-expenditure ratio, employment institution, and multilingual proficiency. Additionally, residing abroad emerged as a significant determinant of xenophobic attitudes. Notably, interpersonal factors such as having migrant acquaintances or family members, as well as the opinions of one's familial and social circles regarding migrants, were found to influence xenophobia. Considering these findings, the research contributes to a deeper understanding of the factors contributing to xenophobia within the humanitarian aid sector.