This study examines Swahili-speaking refugees’ feelings of inclusion and exclusion through focus group interviews. We hypothesized that language, tangible aid, and social interactions would be related to feelings of inclusion and exclusion in the host society. We also examined demographic moderators of these associations. The 9 refugees, all first generation, who participated were from 3 different countries (DRC, Kenya, and South Sudan). There were 3 males and 6 females between the ages of 18 and 28. Findings indicate that experiences related to social interactions were cited most frequently as causes of feeling included or excluded. Individual interactions were more likely to be associated with exclusion, while organizational interactions were more commonly connected to inclusion. Additionally, significant correlations were found among participants that were older and felt included at work through social interactions in an individual context, and among participants who moved to the US at a younger age and felt included at work through social interactions in an organizational context.
","abstract_html":"<p>This study examines Swahili-speaking refugees’ feelings of inclusion and exclusion through focus group interviews. We hypothesized that language, tangible aid, and social interactions would be related to feelings of inclusion and exclusion in the host society. We also examined demographic moderators of these associations. The 9 refugees, all first generation, who participated were from 3 different countries (DRC, Kenya, and South Sudan). There were 3 males and 6 females between the ages of 18 and 28. Findings indicate that experiences related to social interactions were cited most frequently as causes of feeling included or excluded. Individual interactions were more likely to be associated with exclusion, while organizational interactions were more commonly connected to inclusion. Additionally, significant correlations were found among participants that were older and felt included at work through social interactions in an individual context, and among participants who moved to the US at a younger age and felt included at work through social interactions in an organizational context. </p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Lankster, Aaron"],"institution":"Eastern Kentucky University","degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Master's","degree_discipline":"Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2022,"date_issued":"2022-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2022-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:53Z","subjects":["Exclusion","Inclusion","Refugees","Swahili-speaking","Social Psychology"],"languages":[],"rights":["Copyright 2022 Aaron Lankster"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/738","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Lankster, Aaron"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Master Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Psychology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Master's"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Eastern Kentucky University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Exclusion","Inclusion","Refugees","Swahili-speaking","Social Psychology"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright 2022 Aaron Lankster"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/738"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This study examines Swahili-speaking refugees’ feelings of inclusion and exclusion through focus group interviews. We hypothesized that language, tangible aid, and social interactions would be related to feelings of inclusion and exclusion in the host society. We also examined demographic moderators of these associations. The 9 refugees, all first generation, who participated were from 3 different countries (DRC, Kenya, and South Sudan). There were 3 males and 6 females between the ages of 18 and 28. Findings indicate that experiences related to social interactions were cited most frequently as causes of feeling included or excluded. Individual interactions were more likely to be associated with exclusion, while organizational interactions were more commonly connected to inclusion. Additionally, significant correlations were found among participants that were older and felt included at work through social interactions in an individual context, and among participants who moved to the US at a younger age and felt included at work through social interactions in an organizational context.
"]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["application/PDF"]},{"key":"dc:source","label":"Dc Source","values":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Factors Contributing To Feelings Of Inclusion And Exclusion Among Swahili-Speaking Refugees In Lexington, Kentucky"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Lankster, Aaron"],"dc:description.abstract":["This study examines Swahili-speaking refugees’ feelings of inclusion and exclusion through focus group interviews. We hypothesized that language, tangible aid, and social interactions would be related to feelings of inclusion and exclusion in the host society. We also examined demographic moderators of these associations. The 9 refugees, all first generation, who participated were from 3 different countries (DRC, Kenya, and South Sudan). There were 3 males and 6 females between the ages of 18 and 28. Findings indicate that experiences related to social interactions were cited most frequently as causes of feeling included or excluded. Individual interactions were more likely to be associated with exclusion, while organizational interactions were more commonly connected to inclusion. Additionally, significant correlations were found among participants that were older and felt included at work through social interactions in an individual context, and among participants who moved to the US at a younger age and felt included at work through social interactions in an organizational context.
"],"dc:format":["application/PDF"],"dc:identifier":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/738"],"dc:publisher":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"],"dc:rights":["Copyright 2022 Aaron Lankster"],"dc:source":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"],"dc:subject":["Exclusion","Inclusion","Refugees","Swahili-speaking","Social Psychology"],"dc:title":["Factors Contributing To Feelings Of Inclusion And Exclusion Among Swahili-Speaking Refugees In Lexington, Kentucky"],"dc:type":["Master Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Master's"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"],"thesis:institution_name":["Eastern Kentucky University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:53Z"}