Beyond Individual Coping: The Role of Social Capital in Community-Based Mental Health Support for Displaced Somali Youth

Abstract

Somali refugee youth face intersecting stressors related to displacement, economic hardship, and systemic exclusion, yet their coping strategies remain understudied. This study examines the psychosocial distress, coping mechanisms, and help-seeking behaviors of Somali refugee youth in Nairobi’s urban displacement context using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative analyses assess the prevalence of stressors, coping strategies, and perceived support, while qualitative responses provide insight into lived experiences. Findings reveal that 72% of participants reported distress linked to economic insecurity (15.9%), family separation (16.9%), or refugee-related adversities (13.2%). Religious coping (59.5%) and self-care practices (60.5%) were the most frequently used strategies, while 15.8% relied on avoidance-based methods. Help-seeking patterns showed that 76.7% of participants were willing to seek help in general, but only 40.7% did so for emotional issues, with mothers and same-sex friends being primary sources. Regression analysis (R2 = 0.507, p < 0.001) showed that scope of community (β = 0.417, p = 0.001), trust in bonding social capital (β = 0.343, p = 0.012), and perceived community violence (β = 0.346, p = 0.003) were positively associated with perceived support. In contrast, help-seeking intention (β = −0.206, p = 0.049) was negatively associated with perceived support. Other variables—including religious coping, emotional coping, age, gender, and bridging trust—were not significant predictors. These findings underscore the need for community-driven mental health interventions that strengthen existing social structures while integrating culturally adapted service models. Leveraging social capital is essential for fostering sustainable, accessible, and community-based mental health support for displaced Somali youth.