Sport for Development and Psychosocial Wellbeing in Displacement Settings: A Quasi-Experimental Study from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Over the last decade, the number of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) has sharply increased across the globe, and sport has become one increasingly prominent tool used in displacement settings to support psychosocial well-being amongst these vulnerable populations. Despite the growing use of sport in displacement contexts, evidence concerning the outcomes of sport-based interventions remains limited, especially as it concerns intervention delivered directly within the camp context. To help address this gap, we present the results of a quasi-experimental study of a sport-based intervention taking place in three IDP camps in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. This paper focuses on the outcomes of the intervention on the psychosocial well-being and socio-emotional competencies of participating children and youth. Results show that trial group participants had significantly higher levels of psychosocial wellbeing and socio-emotional competencies following the programs, though the latter with only a small effect size. Furthermore, the increase in psychosocial wellbeing is stronger for participants in mixed gender teams and those who live within camp settings. Overall, though there are limitations to this intervention, these results likely highlight the importance of long-term interventions featuring well-trained coaches who are sensitive to local context and realities.