THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SINGLE-SESSION GENOGRAM-BASED INTERVENTION MANUAL TO PROMOTE SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE AMONG CONFLICT-AFFECTED MYANMAR MIGRANTS IN THAILAND

Abstract

This study describes the development and preliminary feasibility evaluation of a culturally informed, single-session genogram-based intervention designed to promote social-ecological resilience among conflict-affected Myanmar migrants in Thailand. Employing an intervention development framework, a structured intervention manual with a detailed protocol was developed, reviewed by experts, pilot tested, and refined to enhance cultural relevance, clarity, and feasibility for implementation. An exploratory mixed-methods design was employed. In the quantitative phase, 33 participants recruited through convenience sampling completed pre- and post-intervention assessments using a Burmese-translated version of the Adult Resilience Measure, and results showed an immediate pre- and post- increase in overall resilience following the session, t(32) = -3.33, p = .002, with a moderate effect size (Cohen’s d = 0.58). Improvements were most evident in domains reflecting individual capacities and personal relationships, while the contextual resilience domain showed no statistically significant change. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed using a post-session Exit Questionnaire, with participants reporting high levels of perceived relevance, logical structure, satisfaction and willingness to recommend the intervention to others. Qualitative data from one focus group discussion and eight semi-structured interviews were triangulated to contextualize outcomes. Six themes reflected participants’ emotional processing and meaning-making, relational and social-ecological resources of resilience, and reflections on participation including intergenerational orientations. Overall, findings suggest that a brief, structured genogram-based session is feasible in a low-resource context and may activate early cognitive, relational and culturally grounded processes relevant to resilience among conflict-affected Myanmar migrants.

Keywords: Social-Ecological Resilience, Genogram, Single-Session Intervention, Conflict-Affected Migrants, Myanmar Migrants