Foundations of Somali Resilience: Collective Identity, Faith, and Community

Public Significance Statement The present study found that Somali refugees in San Diego face structural and socioeconomic barriers to their well-being. These barriers are countered by social, religious, and cultural supports. These supports could be the target for public health interventions that are culturally relevant and effective in helping them overcome the barriers they face as a vulnerable minoritized population. Objective: To examine perceptions and experiences of adversity and resilience among Somalis living in San Diego. Method: A community-driven, qualitative investigation was conducted through virtual focus group discussions (n = 4) with male and female Somali refugee adults in San Diego (a total of 22 individuals). Barriers to well-being and the historical, religious, and cultural supports that enable participants to overcome adversity were discussed. Qualitative data were analyzed in Dedoose using thematic analysis to identify the most salient themes and relationships between them. Results: Participants identified the primary barriers to good mental health as difficulties in accessing resources (housing, employment, healthcare) and discrimination due to racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia. In contrast, resilient responses to adversity are supported by a collective identity as survivors, their Islamic faith and its perspective on making sense of adversity, and a sense of communal oneness that encourages reciprocal helping behaviors. Conclusions: These findings suggest that resilient outcomes among Somalis in San Diego are more likely to be promoted by community-based interventions that promote existing strengths and supports rather than focusing on individual coping mechanisms. There is a benefit to investing in community organizations and programs that support resilience-based interventions to overcome common mental disorders in this high-risk population.