7.mahlet Teshome

Addis Ababa University
College of Education and Behavioral Studies

School of Psychology
Predictors of social adjustment and psychological wellbeing of Sudanese and

South Sudanese Refugees in Addis Ababa
By
Mahlet Teshome
June 2014
Addis Ababa
A Thesis submitted to School of Psychology in Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements of the Degree of Master of Arts in Social Psychology
By Mahlet Teshome
June, 2014
Addis Ababa
By Mahlet Teshome
Approval of Board of Examiners
Name Signature Date

____________________ __________________ _____________________
Advisor
____________________ ___________________ _____________________
External examiner
____________________ ____________________ _____________________
Internal examiner
Predictors of psychological and social adjustment of Sudanese and south Sudanese refugees 2014
TABLE OF CONTENT
CONTENTES PAGES
TABLE OF CONTENT .........................................................................................................I
ACKNOWLEGDMENT........................................................................................................II
ACHRONYMES....................................................................................................................II
LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................IV
ABSTRACT ...........................................................................................................................V
CHAPTER ONE
INTERODUCTION
1.1 Background .......................................................................................................................1
1.2 Statement of the problem ..................................................................................................3
1.3 Research questions ............................................................................................................5
1.4 Objectives .........................................................................................................................6
1.5 Significance of the study...................................................................................................6
1.6 Operational definition........................................................................................................7
1.7 Delimitation of the study. .................................................................................................8
CHAPTER TWO
LITRATURE REVIEW
2.1 Overview of refugees in Ethiopia ..................................................................................... 9
2.2 Concepts related to refuges and their psychosocial adjustment....................................... 10
2.3 Indicators of social adjustment ........................................................................................ 12
2.3.1 Acculturation............................................................................................................ 12
2.3.2 Positive relations with others ................................................................................... 16
2.4 Indicators of psychological adjustment ............................................................................ 16
2.4.1 Depression................................................................................................................ 16
2.4.2 Psychological wellbeing .......................................................................................... 17
2.4.2.1 Self Acceptance ............................................................................................. 17
2.4.2.2 Autonomy ...................................................................................................... 17
2.4.2.3 Purpose in Life .............................................................................................. 18
2.5 Approaches to refugees ..................................................................................................... 18
2.5.1 Longitudinal approach; .......................................................................................... 18

I
2.5.2 Kunzs typology ..................................................................................................... 19

2.5.3 African refugee theory............................................................................................ 19
2.6 Empirical researches ........................................................................................................ 21
2.6.1 International researches .......................................................................................... 21
2.6.2 Local researches ..................................................................................................... 23
2.7 Factors affecting psycho social adjustment of refugees ................................................... 25
CHAPTER THREE
METHOD
3.1 Design ............................................................................................................................... 27
3.2 Study site ........................................................................................................................... 27
3.3 Population ......................................................................................................................... 28
3.4 Tools .......................................................................................................................................................... 28
3.4.1 Data collection instruments...................................................................................... 28
3.4.2 Construction and validation .................................................................................... 30
3.5 Data gathering procedures ................................................................................................ 30
3.6 Analysis............................................................................................................................. 30
3.7 Problems encountered during data collection ................................................................... 31
3.8 Ethical consideration ......................................................................................................... 31
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULT, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
4.1 Demographic background ................................................................................................ 32
4.2 Social Adjustment of Refugees in Addis Ababa............................................................... 32
4.3 Psychological adjustment of refugees in Addis Ababa..................................................... 36
4.4 Gender Difference ............................................................................................................. 39
4.5 Prediction of social adjustment and psychological wellbeing........................................40
4.6 Correlations of independent variables and the dependent variables ................................. 42
4.7 Relationship of Amharic language ability and components of acculturation of
acculturation ...................................................................................................................43
4.8 Relationship of refuges relation with the host community and components of acculturation 44
4.9 Inter correlation of variables ............................................................................................. 44
II
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 discussion and conclusion ................................................................................................46
5.1.1 Psychological adjustment..................................................................................46
5.1.2 Social adjustment... .......................................................................................48
5.1.3 Gender difference test ......................................................................................49
5.1.4 Prediction of social adjustment .........................................................................50
5.1.5 Prediction of psychological wellbeing ..............................................................52
5.1.6 Inter correlation of variables .............................................................................52
5.2 Recommendation .............................................................................................................55
References
Appendix
III
Acknowledgment
First and for most, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my thesis advisor, Dr. Abebaw
Minaye, for his relevant advice, critical comments and constructive suggestions throughout the
development and accomplishment of this thesis. He also was helping me to specifically
understand each step in thesis work.
My greatest appreciation is also extended to Ato Abera Titbebu. He is in field of social
psychology, and was guiding my thesis work and also giving critical comments while adopting
my instrument.
I am also grateful to Ato Eyob refugee protection officer at AARA in Addis Ababa. He was
giving me relevant information about urban refugees in Addis Ababa and also he was facilitated
and connected me with representatives of Sudanese and South Sudanese community.
I would also like to express my warmest appreciation to Mr. Yenechole, chair man of South
Sudanese refugees, Mr. Dreij, chair of Sudanese refugees and Mr. Minjeg, all these three men
were supporting me while the data collection process.
My thanks also passes to all participants of the study for filling all the questionnaires properly
which my study will not be completed without those respondents.
I wish also to thank my brother Minas and rest of my families for their enthusiastic
encouragement and moral support for successful accomplishment of my research work.
Finally many thanks to all of you who have contributed to my success.
IV
Acronyms
ARRA; Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affair
DICAC; Development and Inter- Church Aid Commission
DRC; Democratic Republic of the Congo
ICMPD; International center for migration policy development
JRS; Jesuit Refugee Service
NCC; need for cognitive closer
OAU; Organization of African Union
PTSD; post traumatic stress disorder
RWHC; Relation with the Host Community
SPSS: Statistical Packages for Social Sciences
UN; United Nation
UNHCR: United Nations Higher Commissioner for Refugees
V
LIST OF TABLES
Table 4.1; Demographic information of the respondent ..................................................32

Table 4.2; Descriptive statics on social adjustment... ......................................................33
Table 4.3; Descriptive statistics on sub scales of social adjustment ................................34
Table 4.4; Descriptive statistics on psychological wellbeing ..........................................36
Table 4.5; Proportion of respondents in each domain of psychological wellbeing ........37
Table 4.6; Proportion of respondents on depression symptoms ......................................38
Table 4. 7; Gender difference on social adjustment. ............................39
Table 4.8; Gender difference on psychological wellbeing..39
Table 4.9; Prediction for social adjustment .....................................................................40
Table 4.10; Prediction for some domain of psychological wellbeing .............................41
Table 4.11; Relation of the dependent variable with independent variables ...................42
Table 4.12; Partial correlation..........................................................................................43
Table 4.13; Relationship of language and acculturation subscales..................................43
Table 4.14; Relationship of refugees relationship with host community and acculturation
Domains .........................................................................................................44
Table 4.15; Inter correlation of variables .....................................................................................44
Table 4.16; Inter correlations of subscales of acculturation scale ...................................45
VI
Abstract
The major objective of the study is to examine the social and psychological adjustment of
Sudanese and south Sudanese urban refugees in Addis Ababa. Psychological adjustment refers
to feeling of wellbeing and satisfaction and social adjustment is concerned with the ability of fit
or negotiate interactive aspect of the host culture, both are affected both personal and
environmental factors(Ward,et.al,1993). Participants for this study were Sudanese and South
Sudanese refuges in Addis Ababa. Sudanese and South Sudanese refugees have been
participated in this study except children, non volunteers and those who left out of Addis Ababa.
First the study examined the social and psychological adjustment of Sudanese and South
Sudanese refugees, second the study examined gender difference in psychosocial adjustment
among those refugees, third the study also assessed significant prediction of Amharic language
ability, length of years in Addis, educational level and age to social and psychological
adjustment. Fourth the study examined inter-correlation of variables. Simple descriptive
statistics were used to evaluate the social and psychological adjustment and found better psycho
social adjustment. Multiple regression analysis was used for significant prediction of
independent variable (age, level of education, length of stay and Amharic language ability) to
dependent variables (psychological wellbeing and social adjustment). The result obtained from
this analysis found weak contribution of independent variables. Independent sample t test
disclosed there is no significant gender difference in psychosocial adjustment. Other finding of
the study discovered that relation with host community and Amharic language ability positively
correlated with integration experience. Finally positive relation with the host community also
positively correlated with depressive symptoms and psychological wellbeing.
VII
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
It is not exaggeration to assert that migration and issues surrounding migration are defining
features of the 21thcentury. More people are living outside their country of birth than any other
time in history. In 1997, the number of refugees in the World was more than 13 million, the
majority being from the poorest countries of the World (Hirut, 2000) Sudanese refugees
numbered over 430,000 due to the conflict in their country (UNHCR, 1998 cited in Hirut, 2000).
Period of human history and estimates of worldwide migration indicate that approximately 3% of
the worlds population (more than 214 million people) can be defined as migrants (BBC news,
International Organization for Migration, cited in Esses, Deaux,. Lalonde,& Brown, 2010)
The first period, which began in the mid-1800s and continued up to the outbreak of World War I,
is characterized by free migration both within Europe and to transoceanic countries such as
North America and Australia. Economic liberalism had abolished all of the obstacles of
mercantilism, including control over population movements, by the mid-1800s. During most of
the 2nd half of the 19th century leading up to World War I there were virtually no controls
restricting travel abroad in Europe, with the exception of Czarist Russia. The number of those
traveling abroad remained relatively modest at this time, and passports were not required for
travel between countries. People could, in fact, begin to work in a new country without seeking a
permit to do so (cf, Marrus,& Holborn, cited in Rystad, 1992).
Between 1880 and 1920, a period which saw the third great wave of immigration to the United
States, more than 23 million immigrants became US permanent residents, mostly from European
1
countries. Today, the United States is in the midst of another wave of mass immigration, this
time characterized by newcomers from Latin America (Mexico in particular), Asia, and the
Caribbean (Thomas 2011). According to pew Hispanic research center statistical report The
US total immigrant population reached a record 40.4 million in 2011, The United States is the
worlds leader by far as a destination for immigrants and the next largest number is Russia
with 12.3 million migrants.
The past two years have seen the refugee population in Ethiopia nearly double. This is due to
the influx of more than 100,000 Somalis into the Dollo Ado region, and a stream of Sudanese
entering the country in the region around Assosa. A steady, but significant, number of
Eritreans have also entered Ethiopia's Afar and Tigray regions (UNHCR, 2013). Ethiopia is
now host to some 370,000 refugees: the largest groups are Somalis (56 per cent), Sudanese
and South Sudanese (23 per cent) and Eritreans (17 per cent). In addition, there are a number
of displaced people from Kenya in the Moyale region, as well as urban refugees from several
other countries, including Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Djibouti,
Rwanda, Uganda and Yemen (UNHCR 2013). Most of the Sudanese refugees arrived in
Ethiopia in the early 1980s. The refugee population in Ethiopia reached its peak of more than
300.000 in 1991 (International center for migration policy development, 2008).
According to Berry, (1997) as result of migration, many societies become culturally plural,
that is people of many cultural backgrounds come to live together in a diverse society. All
individuals in a changing or changed cultural environment have common adaptation
experience and everybody adopts but in a different rate (Kim, cited in Sari, 2002). Ward,
Colleen, Kennedy, and Antony (1993) have mentioned that adjustment or adaptation during
cross cultural transition can be broadly divided in to two categories; psychological and socio
cultural. The former refers to feeling of wellbeing and satisfaction affected by personality
factor, life changes and social support where as the latter is concerned with the ability of fit or
negotiate interactive aspect of the host culture and dependent on variables such as length of
residence in the new culture, language ability, cultural disturbance, and the quantity of
contact with the host nationals.
As a universal episode the Sudanese and South Sudanese refugees are the victims of those
problems. So it is worthy to study such problems and the aim of this paper is to address the
psychosocial adjustment of Sudans refugees in Addis Ababa.
I did group assignment on South Sudan Nuer community in a project for partial fulfillment of
community psychology course. The group which I belong was intended to study South
Sudanese Nuer community, which is one of larger tribe in Sudan and South Sudan. So while
working the assignment we have studied that their historical background, ecological
description and structure of the community. Consequently I have observed their sense of
community and commitment in Nuer community, network, communication and
interdependence among members, and additionally we have found some of the communities
challenge while living in the city. All I have observed through that study pushed me to study
their psycho social adjustment in a broad manner.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Like most countries in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia is both a sending and receiving country of
migration, while inward migration is marked by refugee movements, mainly from Sudan,
Somalia and Eritrea. The refugee flows into Ethiopia are primarily the result of political and
civil unrest and recurring natural disasters in the neighboring countries (ICMPD, 2008).
According to Berry, Kim and Boski cited in Sari (2002), there are strategies of adaptation as a
process that leads to different varieties of adaptation. The most common form of these
strategies is adjustment, which refers to behavioral change that reduces the conflict between
the environment and the behavior. This is also the very intention of my paper in which my
target population may face.
The uncertainty about their future, the stress of adjusting to a new society, numerous losses,
and the focus on their traumatic past may contribute to feelings of low self-esteem,
hopelessness, and depression among refugee torture survivors. (Burgess, 2004) In addition
to depression, torture survivors have high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and
other anxiety conditions, as well as other conditions also found in traumatized refugees.
Some experience panic attacks or dissociative episodes. Others turn to alcohol and other
substances to cope with their symptoms. (Burgess, 2004)
One of the challenges for migrants is the psychosocial adjustment and adaptation to a new
culture and country. Some immigrants and refugees are confronted with multiple challenges
that range from dealing with their pre migration stressors (i.e., trauma, loss of family, etc.)
and trying to cope with post migration resettlement (i.e., culture shock, finding gainful
employment, language, change in family dynamics, etc.) (Zalaquett, 2011)
It is critical for counselors and psychologists to understand issues, such as, reasons for
migration, political and economic context of the home country, language barriers, loss and
grief, changes in identity, dealing with xenophobia, discrimination, stereotypes, family
relations and intergenerational conflicts, acculturation, cultural shock, mental and physical
health problems, etc. (Bemak & Chung, cited in Zalaquett, 2011) Simultaneously counselors
and psychologists must have the skills and the ability to collaborate and work in
interdisciplinary teams to assist with the complex pre and post-migration issues that impact
immigrants psychosocial adjustment and adaptation. According to Anderson, cited in Sari,

(2002) the fairest and the most dominant is a recuperation model and its central term is
cultural shock. The term cultural shock can be briefly defined as the period of transition and
adjustment during which a person experiences some degree of anxiety, confusion and
disruption related to living in a new culture (Befus, 1998 cited in Sari, (2002). An important
concept in Berry as cited in Kosi, Kruglanski, pierro & Manietti 2004) that captures the
experiences as a scheme is that of acculturation strategies. These represent the intersection of
two dimensions. The first concerns the degree to which one wishes to maintain the culture of
origin (for example, in terms of identity, language, ways of life) versus giving it up and
replacing it by the host culture. The second dimension relates to the extent to which one seeks
day-to-day interactions with members of the host group versus avoiding them to the extent
possible, and orienting primarily to one's own group. While adapting to the new culture,
refugees may suffer severe problems of adjustment, sometimes with long lasting effect. Even
though there are researches conducted on refugees they have, little or no emphasis on urban
refugees psychosocial adjustment. As a result my research was intended to examine the
psychosocial adjustment of Sudanese and South Sudanese refugees in Addis Ababa.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
After conducting the research the paper is expected to answer the below research questions.
1. How do Sudanese and Southern Sudanese refugees in Addis Ababa adjust psychologically?
2. How do Sudanese and southern Sudanese refugees in Addis Ababa adjust socially?
3. To what extent, the refugees demographic attributes; language ability, the year they spent
in Addis Ababa, their educational level & age contributes to their psycho social
adjustment?
4. Is there a significance gender difference in psychological and social adjustment?

5. Is there significant relationship between depression, and positive relationship with host?
1.4 OBJECTIVES
The general objective of the research is to assess the psychological and social adjustment of
Sudanese and South Sudanese refuges in Addis Ababa.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
While the refugees got urban status they will be exposed to live with the new culture, with the
new society, and also with new social setting. As a result of civil war in Darfur since 2003,
there is higher migration flow of Sudanese and South Sudanese refugees to Ethiopia, but
there have been only few or no researches which address the issue particularly refugees
psycho social adjustment. Thus studying the psycho social adjustment of urban Sudanese and
South Sudanese refugee has vital importance to researchers, policy developers and
practitioners who work on the area.
The finding may also guide other researcher to study different aspect of Sudanese and South
Sudanese refugees experience in Addis Ababa including the attitude of the host community
towards refugees and the vice versa, how they cope up with the supposed challenges and
other psychological factors which affect their adjustment in the host countries.
There are organizations who work for the wellbeing of refugees (e.g. UNHCR, JRS, ARRA)
particularly JRS is the only organization in Addis Ababa which provides assistance including
language course, library facility, day care service, and computer literacy program to build
urban refugees adjustment so the finding of the research will be good input for better
understanding of refugees.
1.6 OPERATIONAL DEFINATION
It is very essential to note that targeted refugees and Sudanese and south Sudanese refugees
will be used interchangeably.
Psychological wellbeing; Positive psychological functioning and the core
dimensions of the model of well-being pursued in the following domains;
autonomy, self acceptance and purpose in life.
Social adjustment; is the ability to fit or negotiate interactive aspect of the host
culture. And the model was pursued with the two domains; acculturation strategies
and relation with host community
Depressive symptoms; common mental disorder that presents with depressed
mood, loss of interest or pleasure, decreased energy, feelings of guilt or low self-
worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, and poor concentration
Adjustment; which refers to behavioral change that reduces the conflict between
the environment and the behavior. or refers to the level of fit between the
acculturating individual and the mainstream cultural context
Refugee; according to OAU convention the term "refugee" shall mean every
person who, owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race,
religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion,
is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is
unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country, or who, not having a
nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a
result of such events is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to his
or her country.
Host community; the community in which the refugees lives with.
1.7 DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The primary concern of the research is to examine the psycho social adjustment of Sudanese
and south Sudanese urban refugees so the study will be delimited with all registered Sudanese
and South Sudanese urban refugees who stayed at least for 6 months and above in Addis
Ababa.
CHAPTER TWO
LITRATURE REVIEW
2.4 OVERVEIW OF REFUGEES IN ETHIOPIA
Ethiopia has been one of the most important host countries for refugees in the world. It is
often stated that, hosting refugees in Ethiopia is dated as far back as to the coming of the
follower of the prophet Muhammad. (Administration for refugee and returnee affairs, 2011)
The country had experienced a large influx of refugees; these are from different origins that
include Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea, Rwanda, Burundi, Angola, Liberia, Djibouti, Uganda,
Congo, and Yemen, over the last two decades close to one million refugees were hosted in
Ethiopia. This is mainly conditioned by the fact that the country is bordered by the most
volatile and conflict ridden countries (Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea) in the region Horn of Africa.
It is currently accommodating close to 200,000 refugees, the influx tends to increase due to
ongoing political and civil unrest as well as recurring natural disasters in neighboring
countries of Somalia and Eritrea. In 11 camps located in different parts of the countrys
border villages( three in the east ,two in the west, three in the north and three in the south),
Urban refugees are also found in major towns, especially Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa
(ARRA, 2011).
The majority of those refugees have been living in these camps, expecting a durable Solution
through repatriation, integration or settlement. The country has also an open door policy
towards receiving refugees and is a signatory to all United Nation (UN) and Organization of
African Union (OAU) refugee conventions and protocols. It has also issued the National
Refugee Legislation in July 2004 developed on the basis of the principles of these
conventions and protocols to guide its operation in relation to refugees and its partners. Since
1988 it has established government organ, ARRA, with a mandate of oversight and
administration of refugee management and provision of services in the country (ARRA,
2011).
Core refugee services in Ethiopia include:
Protection and provision of care and maintenance assistance;
Promotion of voluntary repatriation; and
Recovery programs including school feeding and environment-focused food-for-work
program.
In Addis Ababa, JRS also runs the citys only community centre for recognized urban
refugees. Established in 1996 and frequented by more than 500 refugees, the centre is a place
where children can play and adults socialize, attend language or computer lessons, take part
in vocational training and workshops, and use the library and internet facilities. Local
students are welcome to use the library, a move aimed at promoting the integration of the
refugees. Another integration tool is language classes.
2.2 CONCEPT RELATED TO REFUGES AND THEIR PSYCHOSOCIAL
ADJUSTMENT
According to international migration low, migration is defined as a process of moving,
either across an international border, or within a State. It is a population movement,
encompassing any kind of movement of people, whatever its length, composition and
causes; it includes migration of refugees, displaced persons, uprooted people, and
economic migrants. While the first article of OAU defined refugee as
A person who, owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race,
religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is

outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is
unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country, or who, not having a
nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result
of such events is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it. or
A person who, owing to external aggression, occupation, foreign domination or events
seriously disturbing public order in either part or the whole of his country of origin or
nationality, is compelled to leave his place of habitual residence in order to seek refuge
in another place outside his country of origin or nationality.
In working with refugees populations, service providers must understand both the culture of
the individual's country of origin and the immigration experience (Chan, cited in Segal and
Mayadas, 2005). Within this context, practitioners need to identify the circumstances under
which the individuals left their homelands and what resources they brought. Second, they
must recognize that almost all refugees who leave their home, either willingly or not, leave
behind much that is familiar culture, language, environment, climate, family, friends, social
system, and norms of behavior. Women, in particular, may leave careers to follow husbands,
having to re-establish their social and professional networks to a greater degree than their
spouses (Salaff & Greve, cited in Segal and Mayadas 2005). Thus, the stresses of a large
proportion of immigrants and refugees in translocation are enormous. Among the many
traumas of the emigration-immigration process is culture shock in an alien environment;
language, social structures, norms, expectations, and values substantially differ from those
that have been elemental to the immigrants' understanding of themselves.

2.3 INDICATORS OF SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT
2.3.1 Acculturation
As Berry cited in (Jackson, Ray &Bybell, 2013) defined acculturation as, the process of
cultural and psychological change that involves learning to live in new social and cultural
contexts after one has become socialized into an earlier one.
Acculturation comprehends those phenomena which result when groups of individuals having
different cultures come into continuous first-hand contact, with subsequent changes in the
original culture patterns of either or both groups . . .
Under this definition acculturation is to be distinguished from culture change, of which it is
but one aspect, and assimilation, which is at times a phase of acculturation. (Redfield, Linton,
& Herskovits, cited in Berry, et al., 2002).
In another formulation, acculturation was defined as: Culture change that is initiated by the
conjunction of two or more autonomous cultural systems. Acculturation is seen as one
aspect of the broader concept of culture change (that which results from intercultural
contact), is considered to generate change in either or both groups, and is distinguished
from assimilation (which may be at times a phase). Graves, cited in Berry, et al., 2002). has
coined the term psychological Acculturation to refer to the changes that an individual
experiences as a result of being in contact with other cultures, and as a result of participating
in the process of acculturation that his or her cultural or ethnic group is undergoing.
Acculturation Strategies
As we have seen, the original definitions of acculturation foresaw that domination was not the
only relationship, and that cultural and psychological homogenization would not be the only
possible outcome of intercultural contact. Why not? An answer to this question lies in the
observation that people hold different views about how they want to live following contact.
They adopt different acculturation strategies; not everyone seeks out such contact, and even
among those who do, not everyone seeks to change their culture and behavior to be more like
the other (often dominant) group. In the 1936 statement by Redfield et al., it was noted that
assimilation is not the only form of acculturation; there are other ways of going about it.
Taking this assertion as a starting point ( Sommerlad & Berry, cited in Berry,et al., 2002).
First distinguished between the strategies of assimilation and integration, and later between
separation and marginalization as various ways in which acculturation (both of groups and
individuals) could take place. These distinctions involved two dimensions, based on
orientations towards ones own group, and those towards other groups (Berry, cited in Berry,
et al., 2002). The first dimension is rendered as a relative preference for maintaining ones
heritage culture and identity (issue 1), and the second as a relative preference for having
contact with and participating in the larger society along with other ethno cultural groups
(issue 2),for both the ethno-cultural groups and the larger society. As we shall see, these
strategies vary across individuals, groups, and societies; they also vary because of the
interaction between the strategies of the two groups in contact. Orientations to two issues can
vary along dimensions, represented by bipolar arrows. Generally positive or negative views
about these issues intersect to define four strategies of intercultural relations. These strategies
carry different names, depending on which group (the dominant or non-dominant) is being
considered. From the point of view of non-dominant ethno cultural groups, when individuals
do not wish to maintain their cultural identity and seek daily interaction with other cultures,
the assimilation strategy is defined. In contrast, when individuals place a value on holding on
to their original culture, and at the same time wish to avoid interaction with others, then the
separation alternative is defined. When there is an interest in both maintaining ones original
culture, while having daily interactions with other groups, integration is the option; here,
some degree of cultural integrity is maintained, while at the same time members of an ethno
cultural group seek to participate as an integral part of the larger social network. Finally,
when there is little possibility is or interest in cultural maintenance (often for reasons of
enforced cultural loss), and little interest in having relations with others (often for reasons of
exclusion or discrimination) then marginalization is defined This presentation assumes that
non-dominant groups and their individual members have the freedom to choose how they
want to engage in intercultural relations. This, of course, is not always the case (Berry, 1974b
cited in Berry,et al., 2002). When the dominant group enforces certain kinds of relations, or
constrains the choices of non-dominant groups or individuals, then other terms need to be
used. This is most clearly so in the case of integration, which can only be freely chosen and
successfully pursued by non-dominant groups when the dominant society is open and
inclusive in its orientation toward cultural diversity (Berry, 1990a cited in Berry,et al., 2002).
Thus a mutual accommodation is required for integration to be attained, involving the
acceptance by both dominant and non-dominant groups of the right of all groups to live as
culturally different peoples within the same society.

Berrys model of acculturation strategies
Issue 1:
Maintenance of heritage, culture and identity
Issue 2 Integration assimilation Multiculturalism melting pot
Relationships
Sought
Among Separation marginalization Segregation exclusion
Groups
Strategies of ethno cultural groups Strategies of larger
society
Fig. 1 Acculturation strategies
The available research consistently implicates several factors as contributing to acculturative
stress in international students, migrants and refugees. These factors include region of origin,
language fluency of the host fluency, and social support. For example, in a nationally diverse
sample of international students, Yeh and Inose 2003 cited in Jackson, Ray, & Bybell (2013 )
found that students from Europe, with greater English fluency, more social support (relation
with the host) and higher satisfaction with social support had significantly less acculturative
stress than those from non-European nations, with lower English fluency, and less social
support. Poyrazli, Kavanaugh, Baker, and Al-Timimi, cited in Jackson, Ray, &Bybell (2013)
found that social support, English language fluency, and region of origin were negatively
correlated with acculturative stress; with Asian students experiencing more acculturative
stress than European students. Poyrazli and colleagues also demonstrated that Asian students
who socialized primarily with other international students had greater acculturative stress. In
addition, those with higher English fluency had less acculturative stress, regardless of their
primary social group. It appear that the region of origin, English fluency, and social support
play interactive and important roles in the experience of acculturative stress among
international students.
2.3.2 Positive Relations with Others
Many of the preceding theories emphasize the importance of warm, trusting interpersonal
relations. The ability to love is viewed as a central component of mental health. Self-
actualizers are described as having strong feelings of empathy and affection for all human
beings and as being capable of greater love, deeper friendship, and more complete
identification with others. Warm relating to others is posed as a criterion of maturity. Adult
developmental stage theories also emphasize the achievement of close unions with others
(intimacy) and the guidance and direction of others (generativity). Thus, the importance of
positive relations with others is repeatedly stressed in conceptions of psychological well-
being.
2.4 INDICATORS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT
2.4.1 Depression
According to world health organization (2012) depression was defined as a common mental
disorder that presents with depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, decreased energy,
feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, and poor concentration.
Moreover, depression often comes with symptoms of anxiety. These problems can become
chronic or recurrent and lead to substantial impairments in an individuals ability to take care
of his or her everyday responsibilities. According to Jackson, Ray, & Bybell, (2013) the
influence of personal characteristics ,acculturative stress, and social support on depressive

symptoms and socio cultural adjustment for international students., in this sample, those who
experienced higher acculturative stress and less social support also had more depressive
symptoms and more difficulty with socio cultural adjustment. Importantly, social support
played a partial role in the predictive relationship between acculturative stress and depressive
symptoms, in addition to the direct effect of acculturative stress on symptoms of
depression.,(Jackson, Ray, & Bybell,(2013)
The experimental research done by Jerome, Koji and Ahmed(2010) on Psychoses, PTSD,
and depression in Somali refugees in Minnesota confirmed that almost half of the Somali
male participants are under age 30, 80% of whom presented with psychoses, compared with
the rate of psychosis (13.7%) in the non-Somali control group of same aged males at the
clinic. The older male, and the majority of Somali female participants, show predominantly
depressive and PTSD symptom.
2.4.2 Psychological wellbeing
Psychological wellbeing has been defined in collaborating with six dimensions of
psychological wellbeing, Self-acceptance, Purpose in life, Autonomy, Positive relationships,
Personal growth Environmental mastery.
2.4.2.1 Self Acceptance
The most recurrent criterion of wellbeing evident in the previous perspectives is the
individuals sense of self-acceptance. This is defined as a central feature of mental health as
well as characteristic of Self-actualization, optimal functioning and maturity. Life span
theories also emphasize acceptance of one's self and one's past life. Thus, holding positive
attitudes toward oneself emerges as a central characteristic of positive psychological
functioning (Ryff, 1996).

2.4.2.2 Autonomy
There is considerable emphasis in the prior literature on such qualities as self-determination,
independence, and the regulation of behavior from within. Self-actualizers are described as
showing autonomous functioning and resistance to enculturation. The fully functioning
person is described as having an internal locus of evaluation, whereby one does not look to
others for approval, but evaluates oneself by personal standards. Individuation is seen to
involve a deliverance from convention, in which the person no longer clings to the collective
fears, beliefs, and laws of the masses. The process of turning inward in the later years is also
seen by life-span developmentalists to give the person a sense of freedom from the norms
governing everyday life (Ryff, 1996).
2.4.2.3 Purpose in Life
Mental health is defined to include beliefs that give one the feeling that there is purpose and
meaning to life. The definition of maturity also emphasizes clear comprehension of life's
purpose, a sense of directedness, and intentionality. The life-span development theories refer
to a variety of changing purposes or goals in life, such as being productive and creative or
achieving emotional integration in later life. Thus, one who functions positively has goals,
intentions, and a sense of direction, all of which contribute to the feeling that life is
meaningful (Ryff, 1996).
2.5 APPROACHES TO REFUGEES
2.5.1 LONGITUDINAL APPROACH;
The longitudinal approach to adaptation generally suggests that there are stages that an
individual goes through when adjusting to another culture. Culture shock, the W curve, and
Kim and Rubens, cited in Cai & Rodriguez 1996/7) systems theory of intercultural
transformation each address various psychological stages an individual undergoes when
immersed in a different culture over a long period of time. These approaches do not suggest
that an individual adjusts behavior upon initial exposure to cultural differences. Instead, an
individual experiences stress or difficulty based on extended exposure to new ways of doing
things. These approaches predict that, over time, the person will learn and become
accustomed to the ways of the new culture and thus will adapt to cultural differences.
2.5.2 KUNZS TYPOLOGY
Refugees theory
In order to explain how refugees can be classified, Kunz (1981, p. 44) divided them into three
distinct groups, derived from refugees attitudes towards their displacement. Those refugees
whose opposition to political and social events at home is shared by their compatriots, both
refugees and those who remain in home areas, are called majority identified refugees.
Refugees who have left their home areas because of active or latent discrimination against the
group to which they belong, frequently retain little interest in what occurs in their former
homes once they have left. These refugees, who feel irreconcilably alienated from their
fellow citizens, Kunz calls events related refugees. A third type of refugee includes people
who decided to leave their home country for a variety of individual reasons. These self-
alienated refugees feel alienated from their society not by any active policy of that society,
but rather by some personal philosophy.
2.5.3 AFRICAN REFUGEE THEORY
The complex interplay of socio-economic factors which can lead to refugee migrations does
not affect each migrant in the same manner. The varieties of different refugee migrations are
as complex as the situations which can create them. People have different perceptions of
exactly what they consider is a threat to them. In some situations the mere rumour of
instability can be enough to impel people to move. In other situations, people do not flee until
they have been overtaken by violent conflict. Because in the African context, the line between
political and economic repression can become blurred, many refugees could (and are)
classified as economic migrants. In other cases, ecological change can be the cause of mass
migrations. This latter variation of migration is usually ignored by contemporary definitions.
Rogge, 1979 cited in kunz 1981) derived a typology of refugees based upon an examination
of the activating agent for the refugee migration, the objective of the migration, and whether
the migrants possess refugee characteristics Rogges typology with more contemporary
examples replacing the originals. This more complex examination of refugee decision making
is more in line with Kibreabs explanation of the refugee situation in Africa. Rogges
typology initially identifies two classes of involuntary migration: forced and impelled. The
typology continues by outlining seven distinct types of refugees and their characteristics. It
should be noted that the terms forced and impelled were introduced into the migration
literature by Petersen cited in kunz 1981). According to Petersen, the difference between
these two classes of migration lies in the amount of free choice an individual has when they
are involved in forced migration. Forced migrants are expelled from an area by an external
force, such as a government, the people involved have absolutely no choice in the matter of
their removal. In Africa, examples include Ugandan Asians expelled by the Amin regime in
the 1970s, or South Africans forcibly removed to homelands under Apartheid. Impelled
migrants, on the other hand, do retain some degree of choice regarding their possible flight.
Before making the decision to migrate, impelled migrants have the opportunity to weigh the
factors involved and then make a choice between moving or remaining in the face of an
external threat. Recent African examples of impelled migration include Somalis or Rwandans
fleeing to neighboring states. Most, but not all, African refugees fall into the impelled
category. The motivation for a refugees migration becomes important when their legal status
is determined. According to Rogges typology, some types of refugees are more likely to
obtain official recognition than others. Ecological refugees, for example, almost never receive
official international recognition, but do sometimes receive international assistance, such as
Malians in Niger (1974) and Tigrayans in Sudan (1984).
2.6 EMPIRICAL RESEARCHES
2.6.1 INTERNATIONAL RESEARCHES
Nanjekhos 2011 study provided the first empirical examination of the relationships among
acculturation, social support, and psychosocial adjustment among African adolescent
refugees in resettlement in the U.S. It was found that there were relationships among social
support and psychosocial adjustment; parental support had a predictive relationship with
global self-worth and peer support had a predictive relationship with peer social acceptance,
respectively. Also, it seems that time, that is, the duration lived in the host country, is an
important aspect in the adjustment of adolescent refugees. Refugees due to the length of stay
in the U.S. and his finding were to Similar Gifford, and Barnett who found that time had a
positive impact on refugee youths wellbeing. Therefore, it may be necessary to involve
adolescent refugees who have lived.
In Kelleys dissertation on psychological adjustment, behavior and health problem in
multiracial young adults, 18 to 26 years old, reported statistically higher levels of depression,
drug abuse and physical limitations, and lower levels of self worth than their mono-racial
minority and White counterparts. An important finding suggests that psychologically well
adjusted multiracial adolescents, measured by the presence of positive self worth and the
absence of depressive symptoms, seems to be an important predictor of better well-being

outcomes as young adults. While this is true for adolescents of all races it appears to be a
particularly important aspect for multiracial young people. Better psychological adjustment
distinguishes multiracial adolescents who go on to college from their multiracial counterparts
who do not, even if other environmental factors related to family and schools are not
significantly different. This is not true for the general population where better adjustment and
better environmental experiences (family and school) differentiate college attending from
non-college attending adolescents. College attendance is important since almost across the
board for all race groups, college attending young adults report better well-being outcomes
than non-college attending Young adults.
Kosic, Kruglanski, Pierro & Mannetti, their research found that whether the need for closure
relates positively or negatively to the inclination to immerse oneself in, or keep apart from,
the host culture (as represented here by the assimilation and separation strategies
respectively) depends on the social relations one forges upon arrival in the host country. If
these social ties were forged predominantly with ones co-ethnics NCC (need for cognitive
closer) is related positively to (1) a positive attitude toward the strategy of separation, and (2)
a negative attitude toward the strategy of assimilation. If, however, ones social ties were
predominantly with members of the host culture, then NCC is related negatively to (1) a
positive attitude to separation and (2) a negative one to assimilation. Whereas the reference
group at entry affects immigrant-acculturation directly (the more it consists of co-ethnics the
less the adjustment to the new society), the need for closure does so more complexly and in
interaction with the immigrants initial social contacts in the host country. In this sense, the
need for closure could facilitate either the melting pot or the multiculturalist objectives of
immigrations policies all depending on the initial social conditions in which the immigrants
found themselves. It is finally noteworthy that beyond it constituting a dimension of

individual differences, the need for closure can be also induced situationally (Webster &
Kruglanski, cited in kosi et.al,.2004) via various constraints on information processing such
as time pressure, noise, fatigue, and other sources of stress, and it can also vary across
cultures (cf. Hofstede, 1980).
2.6.2 LOCAL RESEARCHS
Hiruts, study on self concept of war affected adolescents the case of dinkas of southern
Sudan tried to investigate whether there were differences between the self-concept of Dinka
adolescent refugees and those who live in their home areas Two general hypotheses were
tested There were statistically significant differences between self concepts of refugees and
non-refugees and between accompanied and unaccompanied adolescents.
Selamawit, (2007) studied on the social adaptation of refugees with the host country in the
case of Congolese women refugees. In her research she investigated the factors that hinder
their adaptation and integration process. She tries to look out the factors both from the
refugees side and the hosts side. Including the other challenges but language and socio-
cultural barriers takes the fairest place. Lack of common language of communication which
both parties have the command to speak and understand was found to be the most crucial
problem particularly from the side of refugees. Lacks of important social skill and Amharic
language ability have not contributed to only to lower integration of the refugee with the host
community but also happened to be the root cause of misunderstanding between the two
parties.
Solomon Sorotos (2008) study on Settlement and integration of Rastafarians in
Shashemene, Oromia region Ethiopia, suggests that Rastafarian immigrants had never yet
secured their integration with local society since they choose to maintain their cultural and
religious identities in community-based life and/or with the Rastalivity of natural life-style.
For being prepared for the movement, the majority of Rastafarians are self-sufficient, which
signifies partial economic integration. However, the process of building inter-personal and
inter-group relations remained unsatisfactory as a result of different barriers such as language
incompetence, religious and cultural differences, isolated settlement patterns, discriminations
and prejudices, lack of residence permits, and poor access to social services and other
relevant information.
Semalegne Kendies (2011) research on Social Networks, Remittance and Family Migration
Decision among Somali Immigrants found that the majority of the Somalis have migrated to
Addis Ababa since the year 1991, immediately after the disintegration of a central
government in Somalia, for the primary intention of migrating to other nations via Addis
Ababa. This decision of migrating out among Somali families was found being positively
related with family social network characteristics such as social network size, types,
instrumental supports migration attitudes and migration experiences, while emotional support
within the network was not significant in influencing family migration decision. As to the
study, a family having received a positive attitude about its current migration from other
members of its social network will have 23.292 odds ratio which indicated that those families
that received a positive feedback about their migration will have a 23.292 times higher
intention to migrate than who did receive a negative migration attitude. A family that have
gained some form of instrumental supports within its social network had the odds ratio of
19.102, while a family involved in a social network which is mostly characterized by
informal relationships had 7.399 odds ratio Similarly, the findings showed that a unit change
in the number of actors in the social network of a family causes a 26 per cent change in the
intention to migrate whereas a one person change in the number of people having previous
migration experience within a familys social network will bring a 25.4 per cent change in the
The other major predictor variable called monetary remittance was found having a zero
parameter value which indicated that remittance does not have any influence on the Somali
immigrant family migration decision. Generally, family social network structures, channels
and functions have vital influences on family migration decision among the Somali
immigrants; but monetary remittance had no any effect.
2.7 FACTORES AFFECTINF PSYCHO SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT OF REFUGEES
People with higher levels of social capital, particularly strong social bonds with friends and
neighbors, are more likely to maintain good mental health and to cope positively with the
stress of physical illness. This helps us to understand the vulnerability of refugees to
psychological distress and physical illness. Because of displacement, they may have lost the
social ties that support persons in traumatic, stressful situations.
In situations where refugees have lost their social networks, we can expect physical health to
deteriorate and psychological well-being to be difficult to restore. In situations where
refugees have been able to retain strong social ties, they will be able to cope better physically
and psychologically. (UNHCR, 2010)
The literature suggests that employment has a strong impact on psychological wellbeing.
People who are employed have more money (which contributes to well-being), but they also
develop a broader range of social contacts. This has an independent positive impact on
welfare. According to the literature, unemployment is a disaster: it reduces income but it
also reduces happiness directly by destroying the self-respect and social relationships created
by work. When people become unemployed, their happiness falls much less because of the
loss of income than because of the loss of work itself (UNHCR, 2010)
Resettlement is often very stressful for most refugees. Fluency in the language of the host
country and previous formal education have been found to facilitate resettlement, yet many
refugee women possess less education and weaker foreign language skills than men (Dona &
Berry, Deacon & Sullivan, as cited in NSW, refugee health service 2011).
Other challenges to resettling in Australia include:
loneliness and isolation resulting from a lack of social support
seeking employment when they may have never worked before, or when they have
had limited education
financial hardship due to unemployment, underemployment, and/or the need to
support family left in refugee camps or in countries of origin
raising children within a different cultural context
finding appropriate and affordable accommodation
learning the Australian culture, systems (law, education, health, transport, etc.) and
way of life
Role conflicts and family pressure that may result in family breakdown or domestic
violence.
depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

CHAPTER THREE
METHOD
This chapter of the study consisted of the design, the description of the study site, the
participants, the sampling procedures, the instruments and procedures of data collection, the
analysis, and the ethical consideration followed.
3.1 DESIGN
This research is quantitative in design because the psychosocial variables addressed by the
study were measured through questionnaire. Hence, questionnaire was employed for the
intension of measuring the psychological and social adjustments of the targeted refugees.
3.2 STUDY SITE
This study was conducted on those Sudanese and South Sudanese refugees in Addis Ababa
who have urban refugee status and have lived for at least 6 months and above. As the data
obtained from DICAC, there were 200 urban refugees: 107 females and 93 males. Even
though 200 is the total number of Sudanese and South Sudanese refugees in Addis Ababa, 30
were selected for the pilot test, and by excluding 30s 94(54 females and 40 males)
participated for the main study from the remaining 170. There were three main reasons for
excluding the remaining 76 people from the study. From the excluded population, most of
them were children; a few of them left Addis Ababa, and still there were few non-volunteers
to take part in this study. First of all, two persons who are the chairpersons of Sudanese and
South Sudanese were contacted. For them, clarification was given about the purpose of the
research, and they replied their willingness to assist the data collection process. During the
pilot study, the chairpersons facilitated for the researcher to meet 30 participants: the 15 from
Sudan and 15 from South Sudan. Those participants filled the questionnaire prepared at JRS.
For the main study, some of them were met in their monthly meeting, and there was also a
door to door movement to meet those who did not come to the meeting. This was
accomplished with the help of these two chairpersons.
3.3 POPULATION
All urban refugees who lived in Addis Ababa city for at least 6 months were the target
population of this study. As the data obtained from DICAC implies, there are 200 refugees:
107 females and 93 males. Samples were taken based on name list from the total population
some of them were excluded from the study. This includes children, those who left Addis
Ababa and non volunteers. Finally after excluding respondents for the pilot study 94 out of
170 were participated for the main study.
3.4 TOOLS
3.4.1 DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS
All the tools in this study were adopted from other tools in fair and contextual way to
measure refugees psychological wellbeing, depression, relationship with host community
and acculturation strategies. The tool that was used in this research is mainly a questionnaire.
The questionnaire had four parts. The first part dealt with the demographic characteristics of
the participants. The second part was a brief scale to measure their level of Amharic language
ability. Thirdly, 26 items were forwarded to measure social adjustment of refugees.
From the total 26 items the first 20 were intended to measure acculturation where as the
remaining 6 items were for refugees relationship with host community. Fourthly, 6 items
were adapted to measure depressive symptoms. The final part of the questionnaire consisted
15 items were employed for measuring psychological wellbeing of the refugees. Generally,
the customized instruments were designed in such a way that they reveal the participants
demographic characteristics, length of stay in Addis Ababa, Amharic language ability,
depression, psychological wellbeing, acculturation, and their relation with the host
community. The standardized instruments were adopted in a fair and contextual way to assess
the refugees psychosocial adjustment. Finally, the instrument was presented in two
languages: (the English and Nuer version of questionnaire). The English version was adopted
from standardized questionnaires by the researcher, and then it was translated by linguistic
professional into Nuer language.
Acculturation Scale
The refugees acculturation to the new culture was assessed by an adopted scale for Asian
international students by Shiou-Feng., & Gu. M. Carole Pistole (2008). It helped this study to
measure the four domains of acculturation: integration, assimilation, separation and
marginalization. It has 20 adopted items in a scale of 1-5 degree of agreement from strongly
agree to strongly disagree. The reported alpha coefficients were .83, .82, .83 & .89, and test
retest result was.70, 83, 66 & 33 respectively Shiou-Feng., & Gu. M. Carole Pistole (2008).
Depression Scale
The geriatric depression scale, which was developed by Sherry A. Greenberg (2012), was
applied to assess the depression of Sudanese and south Sudanese refugees. The GDS may be
used with healthy, medically ill and mild to moderately cognitively impaired adults as,
(Sherry A. Greenberg, 2012). The short GDS consisted of 15 items by which the participants
were asked to respond by Yes or No alternatives. In reference to how they felt over the
items. The customized 6 items were used for this study.
Ryffs Psychological Well-Being Scales (PWB)
Refugees psychological wellbeing was assessed using an adopted Ryffs psychological
wellbeing scale 15 item. Ryffs psychological well-being scale had 6 domains namely:
autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations, purpose in life and
self-acceptance. Only autonomy, self acceptance and purpose in life were selected to measure
the psychological wellbeing of the refugees and items under positive relation were selected to
measure refugees relation with the host community.
3.4.2 CONSTRUCTION AND VALIDATION
The customized questionnaire was judged by Social psychology experts in order to check the
content validity. Then a pilot test was conducted on the selected 30 sample participants.
Based on the result obtained from pilot test, adjustments were made on the reliability. For
example depending on the reliability result some items were paraphrased while others were
discarded.
3.5 DATA GATHERING PROCEDURES
The questionnaire was administered while both Sudanese and South Sudanese refugees were
having their monthly meeting. And these meetings were held under the two representatives
independently. Then, they facilitated for the researcher to collect the data immediately after
they finished their meeting. There was also a door to door data gathering to meet those who
did not come to the meeting. This was accomplished with the help of these two chairpersons.
Before administering the instrument, I informed the participants about the purpose of the
study and their rights.

3.6 ANALYSIS
Quantitative data analysis method was used. The demographic information was analyzed
using simple descriptive statistics. To see how the respondents adjusted socially and
psychologically, simple descriptive statistics was used. As well, Independent samples test was
used for testing the significance gender difference in psychosocial adjustment. Furthermore,
multiple regression analysis was conducted in order to investigate prediction of language,
age, length of stay in Addis Ababa and educational level for psychosocial adjustment. Finally,
bivariat and partial correlation were used in order to see significant relationship among
different variables.
3.7 PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED DURING DATA COLLECTION
The scattered residences of the refugees were the challenging problems encountered during
the data collection session. They live in different parts of the city (Jemo, Summit, Goro, Saris,
Kottebe and Yerer). Due to the limited number of refugees came to the meeting; the
researcher was obligated to go door to door to meet more refugees for collecting the data.
This was done with the two chairpersons for two reasons. First, the researcher had no idea
about where the targeted refugees live in. Second, the participants had to be persuaded by the
chairpersons to fill the questionnaire.
3.8 ETHICAL CONSIDERATION
Full information was provided to the participants of the research regarding
the objective and nature of the study.
Respondents were asked for their consent and also informed about their
right to withdraw from the study.

Participants of the research were told about the confidentiality of their
responses.
The name of the respondents will not appear in the research.

Chapter four
Result, analysis and interpretation
These parts dealt with major finding and interpretation of results
4.1 Demographic background
Demographic attribute; age, educational level, and duration of stay in the host country was
continuous data but for brief understanding of the reader the data was presented categorically as
follows.
Demographic Categories F % Max Min Total Mean Missing

Characteristic Population
Sex Females 54 57% 94 0
Males 40 43%
15-20 31 33%
21-25 24 26%
Age
26-30 23 24% 47 16 93 25.46 1
32-37 8 9%
39-47 7 8%
0-4 18 19%
Educational
5-8 45 48% University 0 94 7.57 0
Level
10-university 31 33%
Length of 1-4 34 36%
stay in Addis 5-8 49 52% 15 1 89 5.44 5
Ababa 9-15 6 7%
From where Sudanese 13 14%
They are South Sudanese 81 86%
Table 4.1 demographic information of the respondents
Regarding to the age of respondents around 23% of the respondents were between 15-20;
26% of the respondents were between 21-22; 24% of the respondents were between 26-30;
9% and 8% of the respondents were between the age ranges of 32-37 and 39-47 respectively.
47 and 16 are the oldest and the youngest age ranges respectively with 1 missing value in the
population of this study. Their educational level was categorized into three categories: almost
19% of the respondents were grade 0-4. The majority (48%) of the participants were from
grade 5-8. The remaining 33% were from grade 10 up to university. Hence, the maximum
educational level was university degree and the minimum educational level was 0.
Concerning to the length of stay in Addis Ababa, 36% of them lived from 1-4 years. 52% of
them lived in Addis Ababa from 5-8 years. The remaining 7% lived from 9-15years. Thus, 15
years and 1 year were the maximum and minimum length of stay in Addis Ababa
respectively. Finally, the above table shows that the majorities (86%) of the respondents were
from South Sudan and 14% were from Sudan.
4.2 Social Adjustment of Refugees in Addis Ababa
Scale mean Std.d Max. Min.

Respondents score Frequency Percent
Social 88.48 8.617 107 63
< mean
adjustment 33 35%
Mean 5 5%
>mean 56 60%
Total 94 100%
Table 4.2 descriptive statics on social adjustment
From to the above table (table 4.2), based on the respondents score 35% of the participants
scored below the average, these mean that these participants didnt had better social
adjustment. The greater numbers of participants were scored above average 60%, these means
they had better social adjustment in Addis Ababa. While the remaining 5% had a score equal
to the average which implies that this individual is neither socially adjusted nor maladjusted.
Table 4.3 descriptive statistics on sub scales of social adjustment
Sub scales M SD MAX. MIN. a

Integration 17.3 3.38 25 10 .632
Assimilation 15.27 3.85 25 7 .804
Separation 17.03 3.24 25 8 .832
Integration Assimilation Separation Marginalization RWHC

Respondent
Respondent
Respondent
Respondent
Respondent
Frequency
Frequency
Frequency
Frequency
frequency
Percent
Percent
Percent
percent
percent
s score
s score
s score
s score
s score
<M 25 26% <M 44 47% <M 35 37% <M 43 46% <M 28 29%
M 6 6% M 6 6% M 9 9% M 17 18% M 15 16%
>M 63 68% >M 44 47% >M 50 54% >M 34 36% >M 51 53%
marginalization 9.94 3.39 22 5 .735

Relation with 22.69 4.06 30 12 .664
host community
From table 4.3 we can see that from the total of 94 participants, 6% scored on average,
25(26.6%) Were disagreed which means they scored below the mean value and 63(68%)
were replied agreed without any missing values. These illustrate that the majority of the
respondents were integrated with the host country.
Regarding to assimilation the table disclosed that without any missing value 6(6%) of the
total population replies undecided, 44(47%) replied agreed or scored above the mean score
and then the remaining 44(47%) were replied disagreed for the assimilation items. the result
shows that equal number of respondents answered that they are agreed on the items and also
equal number of respondents were disagreed so we can conclude that, those refugees are on
average.
Concerning to separation 9(9%) out of 94 participants are undecided, 54% agreed and 37%
disagreed. This confirms that the higher the score confirm to higher level of reflecting the
behavior. So these finding revealed that the greater number of the respondents were separated
and want to maintain their own culture.
The table also indicates that 18% of the respondents scored equal to the mean or average
score, 36% from total sample replied agreed and the maximum number of the participants
46% score below the mean score. These implies that majority of the respondents disagreed on
the items of marginalization which means almost all of the Sudanese and south Sudanese
urban refugees are not marginalized from the host as well as from their peers too.
The above table also discloses that 19% of the respondents scored equal to the mean value ,
29.8% of the respondents were score below the mean score, and the remaining 54.2% of
respondents scored above the mean value so this implies that majority of the participants have
good relationship with Ethiopian community.

4.3 Psychological adjustment of refugees in Addis Ababa
Table 4.4 descriptive statistics on psychological wellbeing
Scale M SD MAX. MIN.

PSW 52.91 8.01 71 38
Respondents Frequency Percent

score
<M 44 46%
M 4 4%
>M 46 52%
From the above frequency table, based on the respondents score 46 percent of the total
population has scored below average which means these people did not had better
psychological wellbeing. The majority of the respondents were scored above average which
means around 52 percent from the total population had better psychological wellbeing.
Table 4.5 proportion of respondents in each domain of psychological wellbeing
Subscales M SD MIN. MAX a

Autonomy 16.7 3.744 10 25 .61
Self 17.6 2.786 11 25 .65
acceptance
Purpose in 18.5 3.191 12 25 .68
life
Autonomy Self acceptance Purpose in life

Frequency
Frequency
frequency
Responde
Responde
Responde
nts score
nts score
nts score
Percent
Percent
percent
<M 40 42% <M 34 36% <M 32 34%
M 9 9% M 8 8% M 11 11%
>M 45 49% >M 52 56% >M 51 55%
Depression 4 1.303 0 6 .83
The results obtained from the above table dealt about autonomous, self acceptance and
purpose in life. Regarding to autonomy 49% of respondents scored above the mean or
average score which indicates that most of the participants are autonomous. This result shows
that the majority of Sudanese and South Sudanese urban refugees are autonomous. Which is
to mean that they need to give priority for what they think rather to be influenced by others
belief, they have confidence to speech their opinion and also they had personal value to judge
them self.
Based on the analyzed result for self acceptance 52(56%) agreed and 34(36%) of respondents
disagreed. So we can conclude that majority of the respondents had better self acceptance.
This means that they feel positive about themselves and like most aspect of their personality,
and generally they feel good about who they are and how things have been changed through
their life
Table 4.6 also shows the percentage for purpose in life 11% of the respondents were on
average, 34% were disagreed or scored below the mean score while the rest 55% were agreed
for the items. So the result discovered that like the above two domains of psychological
wellbeing those participants also had purpose in life. Like they had sense of direction and
they think and plan for the future also work hard to realize their plans.
Table 4.6 proportion of respondents on depression symptoms
No. Items Yes No

F % F %
1 Are you basically satisfied with your life in Addis Ababa? 74 79% 20 21%
2 Do you often get bored? 53 56% 41 44%
3 Are you afraid that something bad is going to happen to 68 72% 26 28%
you when you are in Addis Ababa?
4 Do you often feel helpless? 60 64% 34 36%
5 Do you full of energy? 79 84% 15 16%
6 Do you think that most people are better than you? 42 45% 51 54%
For the first item 21 percent of the participants were replied no and the rest of 79 percent
were replied yes for the first question. These revealed that above 70 respondents from the
total of 94 people were not satisfied in their life in Addis Ababa.
The second item 53(56%) of the respondents have answered yes. This result discovered that
more than half of the participants got often bored.
Third item 68 (72%) out of 94 respondents answered yes while the rest 26(28%) replied no.
so from these finding implied that majority of those refuges afraid that something bad will
going to happen to them when they are in Addis Ababa.
For the fourth item 34(36%) replied no. and the rest 60(64%) of the respondents answered
yes. This indicates the majority of the Sudanese and south Sudanese refugees often feel
helplessness.
Fifth item 15(16%) responded no and the majority 84% answered yes which means the
majority of the total population of Sudanese and south Sudanese urban refugees did not feel
full of energy.
For the last question 54% of the total population have replied no which means they did not
think that most people are better than them. Where Yes indicates the presence of depressive
symptoms and No indicates the absence of that particular symptom.
4.4 Gender Difference
Table 4. 7 gender difference on social adjustment
Sex N Mean Std.

Female 54 87.46 8.366
Male 40 89.85 8.865
Since the Levenes test for equality of variance is not significance we should take that of
equal variance assumed, thus p-value of the t statistic is 0.186, it is sure greater than .05,
significance levels. According to the result there is no significance gender difference in
social adjustment (t (94) = 1.333, p > 0.05).

Table 4.8 gender difference on psychological wellbeing
Sex of the tested person N Mean Std.

Female 54 51.61 8.252
Male 40 54.68 7.423
For this table also the Levenes test for equality of variance is not significance so we should
take that of equal variance assumed, thus p-value of the t statistic is 0.067, it is sure greater
than .05, significance levels. So the result suggests that there is no significance gender
difference in psychological wellbeing (t (94) = 1.857, p > 0.05).

4.5 Prediction of social adjustment
Table 4.9 prediction for social adjustment
Model Summary
Model R R Square Adjusted R Std. Error of
Square the Estimate
1 .274a .075 .031 8.619
Un standardized Standardized T Sig.

Independent Coefficients Coefficients
variables
B Std. Error Beta Zero- Partial

order
age .253 .138 .203 1.833 .070 .206 .197
educational level .062 .280 .025 .221 .825 .095 .024
for how long they stay
-.363 .367 -.109 -.991 .325 -.099 -.108
in Addis Ababa
Language .370 .257 .162 1.438 .154 .124 .156
From the above table we can see that to what extent that the four independent variables
(Amharic language ability, age, length of stay in Addis Ababa and educational level)
contribute to the dependent variable (social adjustment). So the result discloses that all the
independent variables contributed 7.5 percent for the dependent variable. This show that
7.5% of the variation in social adjustment is accounted for by linear relationship with age,
education level, year they spent in Addis Ababa and language ability, but none of the
dependent variables were not significantly predicted the social adjustment of refugees (the
p value of each independent variable was greater than 0.05).

Table 4.10 prediction for some domain of psychological wellbeing
Model Summary
Model R R Square Adjusted R Std. Error of the
Square Estimate
1 .315a .100 .056 7.943
Un standardized Standardized t Sig.

Independent Coefficients Coefficients
variables
B Std. Error Beta Zero- Partial

order
age .051 .127 .044 .398 .692 .119 .044
educational level .522 .258 .228 2.027 .046 .212 .217
for how long they stay
-.717 .338 -.229 -2.121 .037 -.194 -.227
in Addis Ababa
Language .070 .237 .033 .295 .769 .042 .032
From table 4.10 we can see to what extent the four independent variables (Amharic language
ability, age, length of stay in Addis Ababa and educational level) contribute to the dependent
variable (psychological wellbeing). So the result discloses that all the independent variables
contributed 10 percent for the dependent variable. This show that 10% of the variation in
psychological wellbeing completed is accounted for by linear relationship with age, education
level, year they spent in Addis Ababa and language ability. Particularly the two variables
educational level and the year they have lived in Addis Ababa had significant contribution
where the p values are 0.046 &0.037 respectively, while the remaining two variables have not
contributed significantly to the dependent variable.

4.6 Correlations of independent variables and the dependent variables
Table 4.11 relation of the dependent variable with independent variables
Social Psychological age educational Length of language

wellbeing level stay in
Addis
Ababa
Pearson
1 .291** .207* .096 -.107 .145
Social Correlation
adjustment Sig. .004 .047 .355 .316 .163
N 94 93 94 89 94
Pearson
1 .116 .204* -.196 .043
Psychological Correlation
Wellbeing Sig. .267 .048 .066 .682
N 93 94 89 94
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed), *. Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-
tailed).
From the above correlation table we can watch out, the relationship between the different
variables, First there is a positive relationship between social adjustment and psychological
wellbeing (r=0.291, p=0.004<0.01). Positive relation indicates that if the refugees had better
social adjustment as the same time they will have better psychological wellbeing. Second,
there is also positive relation between social adjustment and age (r=0.207, p=0.47<0.05) this
indicates as age increases social adjustment of individuals will be better. Thirdly educational
level and Amharic language ability did not have significant relation with social adjustment of
refugees. Finally the years the refugees spent in Addis did not have significant relation with
social adjustment and psychological wellbeing. In relation to psychological wellbeing
educational level was positively correlated to it (r=0.204, p=0.48<0.05), as refugees
educational level increases they will also had better psychological wellbeing.
Table 4.12 Partial correlation
Control Variables Psychological Year of stay in

wellbeing Addis Ababa
Correlation 1.000 -.227

Psychological wellbeing Significance . .037
Age & language
Df 0 83
& educational
Correlation -.227 1.000
level for how long they stay in
Significance .037 .
Addis Ababa
Df 83 0
The partial correlation table shows negative relation between psychological wellbeing
(r=0.227,p=0.37<0.05). This implies without any contribution of age, Amharic language
ability and educational level psychological wellbeing had negative relationship with the year
they have stayed in Addis Ababa which means as refugees live for long years in Addis Ababa
they will have poor psychological wellbeing.
4.7 Relationship of Amharic language ability and components of

acculturation
Table 4.13 Relationship of language and acculturation
Integration Assimilation Separation marginalization

Pearson
.381** .353** -.020 -.281**
Correlation
Language
Sig. .000 .000 .850 .006
N 94 94 94 94
The table confirms positive relation with integration (r=0.381,p<0.01) and assimilation
(r=0.353,p<0.01). So as refugees Amharic language ability increases refugees experience of
integration and assimilation will also increase. Marginalization and Amharic language ability
correlated negatively and had inverse relationship (r=-0.28, p=0.006<0.01). So as their

language ability increases they are lesser to be marginalized. The other finding from the table
is Amharic language ability has no significant relationship with separation.
4.8 Relationship of refuges relation with the host community and

components of acculturation
Table 4.14 Relationship of refugees relationship with host community and
acculturation domains
Integration Assimilatio separation Marginal.

n
Pearson
.271** -.252* .020 -.556**
Correlation
RWHC
Sig .008 .014 .846 .000
N 94 94 94 94
The above correlation table shows positive relation negatively related with assimilation
(r=-0.252, p=0.14<0.05) and marginalization (r=-0.556, p=0.000<0.01). So the negative
relation indicates that as the refugees positive relationship with host society increase refugees
will not marginalized also will not assimilate. Positive relation with host society had positive
relation with integration experience of refugees (r=0.271, p=0.008<0.01) these mean as
refugees positive relation with host increase refugees will integrate more.
4.9 Inter correlation of variables

Table 4.15 Inter correlation of variables
depression Psychological wellbeing

Pearson Correlation .377** .421**
Positive Sig. (2-tailed) .000 .000
N 94 94
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
According to table 4.17 positive relation with the host society had positively correlated with
depression symptoms (r=0.377, p=0.000<0.01) and psychological wellbeing
(r=421,p=0.000<0.01) so as the refugees positive relation with the host they will become
more depressed and will have better psychological wellbeing.
Table 4.16 Inter correlations of subscales of acculturation scale
No. subscales
1 2 3 4
1 Integration 1
2 Assimilation .252* 1
.014
3 Separation -.021 .386** 1

.842 .000
4 Marginalization -.235* .142 -.122 1

.022 .173 .242
*. Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level, **. Correlation is significant at the 0.01
level
According to the above correlation table integration scale have positive correlation with
assimilation (r=.252,p=0.014<0.05). Second, there is direct correlation between separation
and assimilation(r=0.386,p=0.000<0.01).Finally marginalization inversely correlated with
integration (r=-0.235,p=0.022<0.05).
Chapter five
Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendation
This chapter addressed discussion, conclusions and recommendations as part of the study. In
the first part of the chapter, results have been discussed with the major conclusions of the
study, where as practical recommendation have been offered in the second part of this
chapter.
5.1 Discussions and Conclusions
5.1.1 Psychological Adjustment

The purpose of the research was to examine the psycho social adjustment of Sudanese and
south Sudanese refugees in Addis Ababa. First lets see how Sudanese and south Sudanese
refugees were adjusted psychologically and socially.
Results for psychological wellbeing were obtained from the sum of the three domains of
psychological well being: autonomy, self acceptance and purpose in life. So, the findings
indicated that the majority of the respondents had better psychological wellbeing. Now lets
see them separately what does it mean that they had better psychological wellbeing. First the
majority of the respondents were more autonomous which means they had their own value to
judge their personal character. This indicated that those refugees did not bother about the
general consensus of their surrounding so that they had confidence in their opinions. More
over they were free to speak what they think even though their ideas were completely
different from others. Furthermore the majority of them did not worry about what other
people think of them.

The second is that the greater number of the total population had self acceptance, which mean
they like their most aspects of personality as well as they were not even disappointed about
their achievements. As a whole they were confident and positive about themselves.
The last domain to be discussed was purpose in life. Similar to the above two components,
the refugees did have purpose in life which indicated that they had sense of direction and
purpose in life or have plan for the future. Besides, they did not only the plan but they also
struggled to realize what they had planned. In addition, they did not want to worry because
they wanted to have bright future to complete other tasks in life. So, from all of the above
discussions it is possible to conclude that most of the refugees in Addis Ababa had better
psychological wellbeing.
The next issue was about the refugees depressive symptoms. In all of the items concerning,
depression most of the respondents were identified with depressive symptoms except in one
item (Do you think that most people are better than you?). Most of the refugees disagreed
with this item but a single item does not let the researcher to decide that the refugees were not
depressed. As a result, we can conclude that nearly all of the participants had depressive
symptoms. And the result is consistent with (Burgess, 2004) result that best describe the
cause of the problem this is due to uncertainty about their future, the stress of adjusting to a
new society, numerous losses, and the focus on their traumatic past may contribute to feelings
of low self-esteem, hopelessness, and depression among refugee torture survivors.)

5.1.2 Social adjustment
Social adjustment was measured in association with the acculturation and refugees positive
relation with the host society. Based on respondents scores Sudanese and South Sudanese
refugees had better social adjustment in Addis Ababa. And we can take a look about each
components of social adjustment independently. Acculturation is one of the domains of
social adjustment and measured by four domains. The first was integration; more of the
refugees were maintained their own culture in collaborating with Ethiopians culture and
context in many aspects. This is to signify that they can make friend from Ethiopians as they
did from their native; also they had good achievement as they did in their home land.
Moreover, they preferred to eat Ethiopians food like they do for their traditional food.
However, there are some circumstances which hindered the integration process. For example
lets see one item of integration is I am good at listening in both my own language and
Amharic. For this question most of the participants answered disagree and strongly disagree
but we cant conclude that they were totally disintegrated since language ability is related to
their readiness to learn the language. To make this clear language skill is a matter of talent,
but regarding to their food preference and their friendly relation with Ethiopians they were
positive and comfortable. So it is reasonable to conclude that the majority of Sudanese and
South Sudanese refugees were integrating them with Ethiopians culture but this doesnt
mean that they have already left their own.
The second domain was assimilation; findings suggested that excluding the averaged scorer
47% of the respondents were assimilating with the host culture. Similarly 47% of the
respondents were not assimilated with the host culture. So the outcome will indicated only
half of the refugees were assimilating themselves with the host culture.
The next domain was about separation; the result disclosed that the majority of the refugees
wanted to maintain their own culture. This implies that most of the refugees wish to live in
their own country even though they were living in Addis Ababa. Moreover they wanted to
raise their children in traditional Sudanese/ South Sudanese way. And they agreed that despite
living in Addis Ababa they are very traditional native Sudanese/ South Sudanese. But, before
concluding lets see the first question I pursue support from Sudanese/South Sudanese
people rather rely on Ethiopian peers for this item nearly every refugees answered disagree.
So this may signify that even though they need to maintain their own culture they still need to
cooperate with Ethiopians.
The last measure was marginalization. It is shortly to mean that feeling of not belonged to
Sudanese/ south Sudanese or Ethiopians or is just to mean feeling of rejection by both
Ethiopians and their peer. And the finding of the research concluded that almost all of refuges
did not have feeling of rejection.
To end with one independent measure of social adjustment was the refugees positive relation
with Ethiopians. So the results obtained signified that the majority of the refugees had
positive relationship with Ethiopians. This is to mean that they trust and need to share more
time with Ethiopians and they easily maintained close relationship with Ethiopians.
Consequently Sudanese and south Sudanese refugees had positive relationship with
Ethiopians.
5.1.3 Gender Difference
This part covers significance gender difference in social adjustment and psychological
wellbeing. So the findings discovered that there is no significant gender difference in
psychological wellbeing and social adjustment. With this it can conclude that there is no
significance difference in social adjustment between males and females and the same is true
for psychological well being of Sudanese and south Sudanese refugees.
5.1.4 Prediction of social adjustment
According to the result obtained social adjustment was not predicted by the independent
variables: language, year of length in Addis, educational level and age. So we can conclude
that year of stay in the host country, Amharic language ability, educational level and age did
not have much contributions for refugees on how to acculturate and positively relate with the
host community. Finding was not consistent with some previous studies Dona & Berry, 2009
in NSW, refugee health service, 2011. Thus found that Resettlement is often very stressful
for most refugees. Fluency in the language of the host country and previous formal education
has been found to facilitate resettlement.
But my finding on relationship of language and positive relation with host community to
integration experience was consistent with Solomon Sorots,2008 study on integration of
Rastafarians in Shashemene who have found that, the process of building inter-personal
and inter-group relations remained unsatisfactory as a result of language incompetence,
religious and cultural differences, isolated settlement patterns, discriminations and prejudices,
lack of residence permits, and poor access to social services and other relevant information.
Selamawit, 2007 also have found that Including the other challenges but language and socio-
cultural barriers takes the fairest place. Lack of common language of communication which
both parties have the command to speak and understand was found to be the most crucial
problem particularly from the side of refugees. Lacks of important social skill and Amharic
language ability have not contributed to only to lower integration of the refugee with the host
community but also happened to be the root cause of misunderstanding between the two
parties. This research have also found language and relation with the host community were
contributors for integration.
Nanjekho, 2011 study provided the empirical examination of the relationships among
acculturation, social support, and psychosocial adjustment among African adolescent
refugees in resettlement in the U.S. It was found that the duration lived in the host country, is
an important aspect in the adjustment of adolescent refugees.
To sum up even though the prediction of the independent variables contradict with those
studies, as I have discussed above I found that language, had relationship with components of
acculturation and I found out that language have relationship with integration process of
refugees. When refugees Amharic language level increase the probably of integration with
the host community also increase so this magnifies that language has role or it is a catalyst for
refugees integration experience. So partially the result here confirms with those studies.
When we see the remaining variables they did not confirm with other studies, year of stay,
educational level and age did not predict social adjustment of refugees. This can be due to the
social setting in the host country, refugees personal factor and also refugees employment
status, even though they live for a long period of time in the host. Most of the refugees are
unemployed, according to (UNHCR, 2010) employment has a strong impact on psychological
wellbeing. People who are employed have more money (which contributes to well-being), but
they also develop a broader range of social contacts. So, most of the refugees were
unemployed. This also contributed for the outcome of the prediction.
5.1.5 Prediction of Psychological Wellbeing
Educational level and year of stay in Addis Ababa had considerably contributed to refugees
psychological wellness, but not Amharic language ability and age. Educational level and year
in the host country had important role in refugees psychological wellbeing. In addition to
this the partial correlation output discovered that without any participation of language, age
and educational level, year of stay in Addis Ababa had inverse relationship with
psychological well being; as the year in host country get longer the refugees psychological
wellbeing will be deteriorated, but finding also contradicted with Nanjekho, 2011 have found,
duration lived in the host country, is an important aspect in the adjustment of adolescent
refugees. Refugees due to the length of stay in the U.S. and time had a positive impact on
refugee youths wellbeing. But when we see to Sudanese and South Sudanese refugees as
soon as they left out their country they probably did not have better wellbeing since they are
displace, leave their families, jobs, and all are traumatized due to war, then when they stay
somehow they might got better adjustment but when the duration in the host culture get
longer and longer the primarily built wellbeing will also depreciated.
5.1.6 Inter Correlation of Variables
Positive relation with the host society was positively interrelated with psychological well
being; as a result, when refugees positive relation with the host country increases their
psychological well being will also be increased. Refugees depressive symptoms was also
positively related with positive relation in which as refugees positive relation with the host
society increases they will also become more depressed. My finding I seem contradicted to
Jackson, Ray, & Bybell, (2013) the influence of personal characteristics ,acculturative stress,
and social support on depressive symptoms and socio cultural adjustment for international
students., in the sample, those who experienced higher acculturative stress and less social
support also had more depressive symptoms and more difficulty with socio cultural
adjustment. Sudanese and south Sudanese refugees need to separate their culture in the same
way they also integrated with Ethiopians culture, I think this showed that they are in some
level of cultural disorientation and that is why they become depressed. What they feel and
what they do have fluctuated, to clarify it they had positive relation with the host society in
the same way they need to separate and identify with their culture, so this magnifies as they
are in some sort of cultural shock and this may resulted to depression. Additionally even
though they had better psychological wellbeing and they had positive relation with the host
community but they may feel as they are judged by their color so this may also contribute for
their feeling of depression.
To sum up Sudanese and South Sudanese had better psychological well being but also
depressed and this doesnt push me to conclude they have better psychological adjustment.
But they are socially well adjusted. In relation to gender difference there no significance
gender difference in psychological and social adjustment. Amharic language ability, age,
educational level and year they spent in Addis Ababa had weak contribution for
psychological wellbeing and social adjustment. Finally positive relation with the host society
and depressive symptoms correlated positively. This happened due to contradiction between
their need of separation and having positive relation with the host community, they feel
discriminated due to their color, they miss their families and friends, and they get bored as the
duration in the host country increases.

5.2 Recommendation
Based on the major findings and conclusions made, the following recommendations are given
as the possible solutions for the identified problems.
To help the refugees to have better social and psychological adjustment and to
minimize the risk of refugees in the urban areas the first thing which makes them to
handle the cultural diversity is host language barrier so the concerned bodies like JRS
have to give basic language skill of the host community to the urban refugees.
Before the refugees gained urban status they stay in the accommodation camps so
more emphasis have to be given for social and language skill training in the camps,
since these two skills are basic inputs for better psychosocial adjustment and better to
establish situations like super ordinate goal to be achieved both by refugees and
natives so that they will collaborate to handle the language barrier and better
integrated in many other aspects.
Psychologists and counselors have to get deep understanding of refugees. This helps
to support refugees cope with their challenges
Finally, since there are several qualitative issues relevant to the topic which have not
yet been answered by this research, further scientific investigation on different aspects
of Sudanese and South Sudanese refugees to Addis Ababa should be undertaken.
Including to the detail background and personal characteristics of urban refugees and
other aspects of social and psychological adjustment using diversified tools.
.
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APPENDICES

College of Education and Behavioral studies
School of Psychology
Questionnaire
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the psychosocial adjustment of Sudanese and South
Sudanese refugee in Addis Ababa. The response you provide in this questionnaire is
confidential and essential for the effectiveness of the study so please provide genuine
information.
N.B; -
No need of writing your name.
All the answer you provide is confidential
You have to give answer for each question
Give one answer for one question
You have to live at least for 6 months and above in Addis Ababa
Be honest and forward the exact answer
Thank you in advance!
Part I background information

1, Sex F M
2, Age _____________
3, Educational level_________________
4, where are you from, Sudan South Sudan
5, Indicate total number of year/month you have lived in Addis Ababa ___________for
how long?
Part II instrument for Amharic language ability

Direction; the following scale questionnaire was prepared to measure your Amharic
language ability so I request you to Rate your overall Amharic language ability by
circling on the numbers that represents your level
No. Items 5=well 4=above 3=average 2=Below 1=well
above average average below
average average
1 Listening 5 4 3 2 1
2 Speaking 5 4 3 2 1
3 Reading 5 4 3 2 1
4 Writing 5 4 3 2 1
Part III Social adjustment questionnaire (acculturation and social relation)
Direction; the following statements were prepared in a way to measure your social
adjustment. Please read each statement carefully and indicate the extent of your agreement on
your adjustment by circling to a number that represent the level of your agreement on each
statment. Here there is no one exactly Wright or wrong answers, so please respond it honestly
what you feel about your adjustment.
5= SA =strongly agree, 4= A=agree, 3= UN=undecided, 2= D=disagree, 1= SD=strongly
disagree
No. Item SA A UN D SD
1 I am equally good at listening in both my own language and 5 4 3 2 1
Amharic
2 I feel very comfortable around both Ethiopians and Sudaneses 5 4 3 2 1
3 I have both Ethiopians and Sudanese friends. 5 4 3 2 1
4 I have good achievements both in my country and here in Addis 5 4 3 2 1
Ababa.
5 I prefer to eat both Ethiopians and Sudanese food 5 4 3 2 1
6 I find myself thinking more like an Ethiopian 5 4 3 2 1
7 I prefer Ethiopian values more than Sudanese values 5 4 3 2 1
8 I want to be like Ethiopian in the way I think, talk, and act 5 4 3 2 1
9 I want to be treated as an Ethiopian. 5 4 3 2 1
10 I am happier now that I am in Ethiopia. 5 4 3 2 1
I pursue support from Sudanese people rather than rely on 5 4 3 2 1

11 Ethiopians peer.
12 I am a very traditional Sudanese person despite living in Ethiopia 5 4 3 2 1
13 I prefer Sudanese living style than Ethiopians. 5 4 3 2 1

14 I would raise my children in traditional Sudanese ways if I were a 5 4 3 2 1
parent
15 I wish I was living in my own country. 5 4 3 2 1
16 I feel that I do not belong to either Sudanese or Ethiopians culture. 5 4 3 2 1
17 Generally I found it difficult to socialize with anybody, Sudanese or 5 4 3 2 1

Ethiopians.
18 I am not understood both by Sudanese or Ethiopians. 5 4 3 2 1
5 4 3 2 1
19 I feel like I am rejected by both Sudanese and Ethiopians.
20 5 4 3 2 1
For me it is hard to trust both Ethiopians and Sudanese
21 Maintaining close relationships with Ethiopians has been difficult 5 4 3 2 1

And frustrating for me.
22 I have no close friends with whom to share my concerns. 5 4 3 2 1
23 I enjoy personal and mutual conversations with Ethiopian friends. 5 4 3 2 1
24 I know that I can trust my Ethiopian friends. 5 4 3 2 1
25 I am willing to share my time with Ethiopians. 5 4 3 2 1
26 I have not experienced many warm and trusting relationships with 5 4 3 2 1

Ethiopians.
Part IV psychological adjustment scale (depression and psychological wellbeing)
The following questionnaires are presented in away to measure your psychological

adjustment in Addis Ababa. Please read each statement carefully and indicate the extent of
your agreement on your adjustment by circling on the numbers. There is no exactly Wright or
wrong answer so please respond honestly what you feel about yourself.
Depression
No Item Yes No
1 Are you basically satisfied with your life in Addis Ababa? 0 1
2 Do you often get bored? 1 0
3 Are you afraid that something bad is going to happen to you 1 0
when you are in Addis Ababa?
4 Do you often feel helpless? 1 0
5 Do you feel full of energy? 0 1
6 Do you think that most people are better than you? 1 0
Psychological wellbeing
5= SA =strongly agree, 4= A=agree, 3= UN=undecided, 2= D=disagree, 1= SD=strongly

disagree
No. Item SA A UN D SD
1 I am not afraid to speech my opinions, even when they are in 5 4 3 2 1
opposition to the opinions of most people.
2 I tend to worry about what other people think of me. 5 4 3 2 1
3 I judge myself by what I think is important, not by others value. 5 4 3 2 1
4 I have confidence in my opinions, even if they are opposite to 5 4 3 2 1

the general consensus.
5 My decisions are not influenced by others belief. 5 4 3 2 1
6 I feel confident and positive about myself. 5 4 3 2 1
7 I like most aspects of my personality. 5 4 3 2 1
8 In many ways, I feel disappointed about my achievements in 5 4 3 2 1

life.
9 I am satisfied with how things have changed in my life. 5 4 3 2 1
10 When I compare myself to friends, I feel good about who I am. 5 4 3 2 1
11 I have a sense of direction and purpose in life. 5 4 3 2 1
12 I dont really think about the future 5 4 3 2 1
13 Some people wander aimlessly through life, but I am not one of 5 4 3 2 1

them.
14 My daily activities often seem trivial and unimportant to me. 5 4 3 2 1
15 I sometimes feel as I have done all the tasks in life. 5 4 3 2 1
THANK YOU IN
ADVANCE!
DECLARATION
I, declare that this thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any
other university, and that all sources of materials used for the thesis have been duly
acknowledged.
Name: Mahlet Teshome
Signature: ------------------------------------------
Place: Department of Psychology

School of Graduate Studies
Date of Submission: ------------------------------------------

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Addis Ababa University

College of Education and Behavioral Studies

Predictors of social adjustment and psychological wellbeing of Sudanese and

A Thesis submitted to School of Psychology in Partial Fulfillment of the

Approval of Board of Examiners

Name Signature Date

____________________ ___________________ _____________________

____________________ ____________________ _____________________

2.5.1 Longitudinal approach; .......................................................................................... 18

2.5.2 Kunzs typology ..................................................................................................... 19

development and accomplishment of this thesis. He also was helping me to specifically

understand each step in thesis work.

My greatest appreciation is also extended to Ato Abera Titbebu. He is in field of social

and connected me with representatives of Sudanese and South Sudanese community.

were supporting me while the data collection process.

Finally many thanks to all of you who have contributed to my success.

ARRA; Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affair

DICAC; Development and Inter- Church Aid Commission

DRC; Democratic Republic of the Congo

ICMPD; International center for migration policy development

JRS; Jesuit Refugee Service

NCC; need for cognitive closer

OAU; Organization of African Union

PTSD; post traumatic stress disorder

RWHC; Relation with the Host Community

SPSS: Statistical Packages for Social Sciences

UN; United Nation

UNHCR: United Nations Higher Commissioner for Refugees

Table 4.1; Demographic information of the respondent ..................................................32

adjustment. Fourth the study examined inter-correlation of variables. Simple descriptive

disclosed there is no significant gender difference in psychosocial adjustment. Other finding of

positively correlated with depressive symptoms and psychological wellbeing.

permit to do so (cf, Marrus,& Holborn, cited in Rystad, 1992).

with 12.3 million migrants.

300.000 in 1991 (International center for migration policy development, 2008).

individuals in a changing or changed cultural environment have common adaptation

contact with the host nationals.

psychosocial adjustment of Sudans refugees in Addis Ababa.

community and commitment in Nuer community, network, communication and

their psycho social adjustment in a broad manner.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

target population may face.

substances to cope with their symptoms. (Burgess, 2004)

employment, language, change in family dynamics, etc.) (Zalaquett, 2011)

grief, changes in identity, dealing with xenophobia, discrimination, stereotypes, family

immigrants psychosocial adjustment and adaptation. According to Anderson, cited in Sari,

experiences as a scheme is that of acculturation strategies. These represent the intersection of

refugees psychosocial adjustment. As a result my research was intended to examine the

psychosocial adjustment of Sudanese and South Sudanese refugees in Addis Ababa.

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

4. Is there a significance gender difference in psychological and social adjustment?

Sudanese and South Sudanese refuges in Addis Ababa.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

practitioners who work on the area.

1.6 OPERATIONAL DEFINATION

will be used interchangeably.

Psychological wellbeing; Positive psychological functioning and the core

dimensions of the model of well-being pursued in the following domains;

autonomy, self acceptance and purpose in life.

and relation with host community

Depressive symptoms; common mental disorder that presents with depressed

worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, and poor concentration

acculturating individual and the mainstream cultural context

__________ _ _____________

_