Research Article

Social Distance Toward Syrian Refugees and Religiosity: The Moderating Roles of Intrinsic Religious Motivation and Socioeconomic Status

Volume: 26 Number: 3 September 25, 2026
TR EN

Social Distance Toward Syrian Refugees and Religiosity: The Moderating Roles of Intrinsic Religious Motivation and Socioeconomic Status

Abstract

Over the past decade, Türkiye has hosted the world’s largest refugee population, largely due to forced displacement following the Syrian civil war. As Syrian refugees moved from temporary arrival to long-term settlement, their interactions with host communities yielded both positive and negative outcomes. Although there is increasing research on Turkish host–Syrian refugee relations, the influence of religiosity on intergroup attitudes remains underexplored. To address this gap, the present study investigates associations among religiosity, intrinsic religious motivation, socioeconomic status, and social distance. Drawing on survey data from university students in Gaziantep and Kilis, the study tests hypotheses using a series of nested multiple linear regression models estimated by ordinary least squares (OLS). The findings indicate that (a) religiosity is negatively associated with social distance, (b) intrinsic religious motivation strengthens this negative association, and (c) this moderating effect disappears among participants with high socioeconomic status. I discuss the study findings, implications, limitations, and future research avenues in detail.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This study did not receive financial support.

Ethical Statement

The author hereby declares that I adhered to scientific and ethical principles during the preparation of this study and that I cited all works listed in the references.

Thanks

The author thanks the editor, staff, and reviewers at Dinbilimleri Akademik Araştırma Dergisi, as well as the individuals who participated in the survey.

References

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  2. Aktaş, Vezir vd. “Investigating Turkish University Students’ Attitudes Towards Refugees in a Time of Civil War in Neighboring Syria”. Current Psychology 40/2 (01 Şubat 2021), 553-562. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-018-9971-y
  3. Alkış, Zübeyir - Okumuşoğlu, Sultan. “Mültecilere Yönelik Arzulanan Sosyal Mesafe Ölçeğinin Geçerlilik ve Güvenirlik Çalışması: Yetişkin Yerel Halk Örneklemi”. Journal of Social Research and Behavioral Sciences 8/16 (03 Temmuz 2022), 212-234. https://doi.org/10.52096/jsrbs.8.16.13
  4. Allport, Gordon W. The Person in Psychology. Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 1968.
  5. Allport, Gordon W. - Ross, J. Michael. “Personal religious orientation and prejudice”. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 5/4 (1967), 432-443. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0021212
  6. Ayvazoğlu, Ayşe Şafak - Kunuroglu, Filiz. “Being a Syrian University Student in Turkey: Intergroup Relations, Psychosocial Issues, and Boundary Formation”. Refugee Survey Quarterly 38/4 (2019), 425-447.
  7. Ben-Nun Bloom, Pazit vd. “Religious Social Identity, Religious Belief, and Anti-Immigration Sentiment”. American Political Science Review 109/2 (Mayıs 2015), 203-221. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055415000143
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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Religious Studies (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 25, 2026

Submission Date

June 1, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 14, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 26 Number: 3

APA
Güven, M. (2026). Social Distance Toward Syrian Refugees and Religiosity: The Moderating Roles of Intrinsic Religious Motivation and Socioeconomic Status. Dinbilimleri Akademik Araştırma Dergisi, 26(3), 1439-1469. https://doi.org/10.33415/daad.1961054
AMA
1.Güven M. Social Distance Toward Syrian Refugees and Religiosity: The Moderating Roles of Intrinsic Religious Motivation and Socioeconomic Status. Dinbilimleri Akademik Araştırma Dergisi. 2026;26(3):1439-1469. doi:10.33415/daad.1961054
Chicago
Güven, Metin. 2026. “Social Distance Toward Syrian Refugees and Religiosity: The Moderating Roles of Intrinsic Religious Motivation and Socioeconomic Status”. Dinbilimleri Akademik Araştırma Dergisi 26 (3): 1439-69. https://doi.org/10.33415/daad.1961054.
EndNote
Güven M (September 1, 2026) Social Distance Toward Syrian Refugees and Religiosity: The Moderating Roles of Intrinsic Religious Motivation and Socioeconomic Status. Dinbilimleri Akademik Araştırma Dergisi 26 3 1439–1469.
IEEE
[1]M. Güven, “Social Distance Toward Syrian Refugees and Religiosity: The Moderating Roles of Intrinsic Religious Motivation and Socioeconomic Status”, Dinbilimleri Akademik Araştırma Dergisi, vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 1439–1469, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.33415/daad.1961054.
ISNAD
Güven, Metin. “Social Distance Toward Syrian Refugees and Religiosity: The Moderating Roles of Intrinsic Religious Motivation and Socioeconomic Status”. Dinbilimleri Akademik Araştırma Dergisi 26/3 (September 1, 2026): 1439-1469. https://doi.org/10.33415/daad.1961054.
JAMA
1.Güven M. Social Distance Toward Syrian Refugees and Religiosity: The Moderating Roles of Intrinsic Religious Motivation and Socioeconomic Status. Dinbilimleri Akademik Araştırma Dergisi. 2026;26:1439–1469.
MLA
Güven, Metin. “Social Distance Toward Syrian Refugees and Religiosity: The Moderating Roles of Intrinsic Religious Motivation and Socioeconomic Status”. Dinbilimleri Akademik Araştırma Dergisi, vol. 26, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 1439-6, doi:10.33415/daad.1961054.
Vancouver
1.Metin Güven. Social Distance Toward Syrian Refugees and Religiosity: The Moderating Roles of Intrinsic Religious Motivation and Socioeconomic Status. Dinbilimleri Akademik Araştırma Dergisi. 2026 Sep. 1;26(3):1439-6. doi:10.33415/daad.1961054