Investigating the Predictors of Environmental Sensitivity in Syrian Refugee Children

Background

Individual differences in the resilience of refugee children

Refugee children have often faced unimaginable hardships such as war, displacement and loss; however, not all children respond to these traumas in the same way. While some children show remarkable resilience, others are more emotionally affected. This difference may be explained by how attuned a child is to their surroundings, also referred to as environmental sensitivity. Environmental sensitivity theory proposes that highly sensitive children are more strongly affected by both positive and negative environmental influences – a pattern that has also been observed in refugee children. Researchers studied over 1,400 Syrian refugee children in Lebanon to understand what shapes this sensitivity and how it may help identify children at risk of mental health problems, but also those who would response well to intervention efforts.

What were the aims of this study?

Understanding how environmental sensitivity is influenced in a refugee setting

The researchers aimed to identify what predicts high environmental sensitivity in refugee children by looking at psychosocial and genetic factors and how they associated with self reported environmental sensitivity.  They explored a wide range of influences, across individual, family, and community levels, to understand how environmental sensitivity is developmentally influenced, and why some refugee children are more deeply affected by their experiences than others.

 

How was this study carried out?

A large-scale cross-sectional study across two time points

The study involved 1,409 Syrian refugee children aged 6-20, living in Lebanon. Researchers used a self-report questionnaire called the Highly Sensitive Child (HSC) scale to assess each child’s environmental sensitivity. Children also provided a saliva sample for DNA extraction and genotype analysis. In total, more than 40 predictors were considered, including parenting style, maternal mental health, war exposure, and household safety. The study also looked at how changes in environment between two time points affected sensitivity levels over time.

 

What were the key findings?

Positive and negative experiences influence environmental sensitivity

Twelve variables emerged as predictors of environmental sensitivity, with the five most frequently selected including behavioural control, positive home experiences, maternal anxiety, human insecurity (a caregiver’s general sense of danger and uncertainty), and child-reported child abuse.

Interestingly, both positive and negative experiences influenced sensitivity. Children who experienced abuse, had anxious mothers, or lived in insecure households were more likely to be highly sensitive. But children with positive home experiences—like shared meals and playtime—also showed higher sensitivity. Behavioural control by parents (like setting clear rules) was another strong predictor. Over a period of 12 months, children’s sensitivity seemed to increase if they enjoyed more positive home experiences, or if their mother’s became more anxious. In contrast, children who felt less verbally abused by their mothers reported decreasing levels of sensitivity.

Some variables, like exposure to war or bullying, showed a “V-shaped” pattern. For example, children with either very low or very high war exposure were more sensitive than those with moderate exposure.

The researchers also found that predictors significantly varied by sex and age. For example, girls’ sensitivity was more influenced by maternal anxiety and refugee camp conditions, while boys’ sensitivity was shaped more by abuse and behavioural control. This highlights how boys and girls are influenced differently, a disparity further amplified in the current sample by cultural and refugee-related factors.

Unlike previous research, polygenic scores (a general measure of genetic predisposition towards a trait) for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) showed minimal predictive value for sensitivity. This suggests that the genetic underpinnings of high sensitivity ay be distinct from those for ASD or ADHD, but substantially more genetic research is needed.

 

What are the implications of this research?

Understanding differing sensitivity levels may be beneficial in the refugee context

Overall, this research provides evidence that environmental sensitivity in forcibly displaced children is heightened in both adverse and supportive contexts. Key predictors such as caregiver mental health, parenting quality, and environmental harshness emerge as meaningful indicators of children’s developing sensitivity. These findings have important implications for early identification and targeted support: understanding which children are more sensitive to their environments can help tailor interventions that mitigate the impact of negative experiences while maximising the benefits of supportive ones.Tailoring support based on sensitivity could be key to fostering resilience and recovery among refugee populations.

This research encourages future studies to consider the many different way high sensitivity can manifest in children, and to further explore genetic markers that might influence sensitivity, especially in diverse populations.

About the research team

The research team comprised a group of experts in the field including Andrew K. May (University of Surrey), Demelza Smeeth (Queen Mary University of London), Fiona McEwen (Queen Mary University of London and Kings College London), Ellie Karam (Saint George University of Beirut) and Michael Pluess (University of Surrey, Queen Mary University of London).