Fostering Prosociality in Refugee in Children:
An Intervention with Rohingya Children

Volume 89, Issue 1-2, Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development

By Tara Callaghan, Tyler Colasante, Saifullah Muhammed, John Corbit, Melis Yavuz-Muren, Charles Raffaele, Rozina Akter, Redab Al Janaideh, Tz-Yu Duan, Nora Didkowsky, Jean-Nicolas Beuze, Bruce Homer, Catherine Ann Cameron, and Tina Malti

Included in this issue:

Abstract

We examined the resilience of human prosociality in the face of extreme adversity in a study of a collaboration-based intervention to foster prosociality in Rohingya refugee children whose families fled genocide in Myanmar. Using a battery of behavioral and related cognitive-affective measures, we found indications of strong initial levels of prosociality (helping, sharing, empathic responding) in these children, and of intervention-related change. Children had different patterns according to whether they directly experienced genocide and forced migration or were born in the refugee camps after their families fled from Myanmar. Higher levels of directly experienced trauma were related to higher emotional attunement and generosity, and lower levels of helping behaviors. The implications of these findings to developmental science, humanitarian practice, and social policy are considered.       

About the Authors


Commentary


Videos


Saifullah Presents a Rohingya Perspective on the Crisis

The Impact of the Research to Educational Supports

Research Impact on Early-Career Researchers: Shaping Perspectives and Future Plans

Teaching and Research Resources