Refugee social network growth post‐resettlement: Impact of a learning, advocacy, and social support intervention

Abstract

Understanding and supporting social network growth among forcibly displaced people is vital as they rebuild their lives. This study examined data from a randomized controlled trial of the Refugee Well‐being Project (RWP), a 6‐month community‐based intervention involving university students and refugees working together to reduce psychological distress and expand social networks. Multilevel growth curve analyses were conducted across four time points over 12 months among 290 recently resettled Afghan, Great Lakes African, Iraqi, and Syrian refugees in the United States. Results showed that intervention participants experienced short‐term increases in social network size, peaking mid‐intervention and declining by the 6‐month follow‐up. Although these positive effects were not sustained, control group participants experienced a steady decline in the size of their social networks over time, further highlighting the beneficial impacts of the RWP intervention. Findings suggest that university‐community partnerships like RWP can temporarily boost social networks among refugees, offering insights for global resettlement support programs.