The Relationship between Attitudes towards Asylum Seekers and Compassion Levels of University Students

Abstract

The aim of this study is to adapt the attitude scale towards asylum seekers and refugees to Turkish culture and to examine the relation of university students' attitudes towards asylum seekers to certain personality traits. The study was conducted with the participation of 340 university students. The attitude scales for both asylum seekers and refugees were adapted to Turkish culture and validity and reliability studies were conducted in the study. Findings have shown that they provide the necessary conditions on both scales and can be used as a reliable and valid measuring tool in studies. In addition, students with a high level of compassion, empathy and understanding have been found to have a more positive attitude toward asylum seekers / refugees at a meaningful level. Also, the students studying at the faculty of theology have more positive attitude than the students studying at other faculties. However, the attitude towards asylum seekers / refugees did not differ according to gender. Findings are discussed in the light of the literature.