“Safety and security are everything”: a qualitative study on the quality of life of Syrian refugees living in Za’atari camp

Purpose Many refugees around the world are forced to leave their counties seeking safety and security. Millions of Syrian refugees fled their country since the conflict started in Syria. Jordan is one of the host countries for refugees from different countries including Syria. Health-related quality of life of individuals influences both the individual and the community, and how these two interact with one another. This study aims to explore the four domains – physical health, psychological health, social relationships and environment domains – of health-related quality of life of adults residing in Za’atari camp in the North of Jordan. Design/methodology/approach A constructivist grounded theory approach was used. Data were collected using semi-structured, face-to-face, audio-recorded interviews. Data were analysed using different levels of coding, constant comparative analysis and writing reflective memos. Findings Pursuing safety and security emerged as a core theme in this study. Participants were pursuing safety and security since the conflict started in Syria. Lack of safety and security led them to flee Syria. For participants, safety and security were among the most important aspects of their lives. The meaning of safety and security for Syrian refugees is presented in this paper. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study exploring the health-related quality of life of Syrian refugees residing in Za’atari camp using a qualitative approach.