Resilience, trauma, and identity in later-life displacement: an interpretative phenomenological study of older refugees in Cairo

OBJECTIVES: Older refugees encounter distinctive mental health concerns arising from the combined effects of aging, accumulated trauma, and forced migration. Although their numbers are increasing worldwide, their voices remain largely absent from mental health research and policy discussions. This study sought to examine how older refugees residing in Cairo understand psychological distress, resilience, and identity in the context of displacement later in life, and how broader social and structural conditions shape these experiences. METHODS: A qualitative approach informed by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was adopted. Thirteen refugees aged between 60 and 84 years from Syria, Sudan, and South Sudan took part in in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Rigor was supported through reflexive analytic practices, bilingual verification of interview transcripts, and reporting procedures consistent with COREQ guidelines. RESULTS: Analysis revealed four interconnected themes: (1) lifelong experiences of trauma and loss; (2) resilience practices grounded in religious meaning-making and cognitive reinterpretation; (3) social support networks functioning as protective resources and sources of identity continuity; and (4) processes of identity renegotiation within contexts of cultural disruption. Although participants actively engaged in adaptation, their capacities were influenced by legal uncertainty, restricted service access, and the limitations of urban displacement environments. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that resilience among older refugees is fluid and deeply shaped by context. Mental health responses should emphasize community-based, culturally sensitive, and spiritually informed interventions that address structural constraints. Enhancing peer relationships, faith-related resources, and identity-supportive spaces may be essential for fostering psychosocial well-being in older refugee populations.