Building Resilience in Transcultural Adolescents: an Evaluation of a Group Program

Abstract

Objectives This study investigates the effectiveness of Building Resilience in Transcultural Australians (BRiTA Futures) for Adolescents, a strengths-based group intervention developed to build the resilience of culturally and linguistically diverse adolescents who experience acculturation in the context of their migration and resettlement journey. Methods The present study examined the effectiveness of the intervention using qualitative and quantitative procedures. Two hundred and twenty-nine participants (age range 12-20 years) took part in the intervention, offered to them in 3 formats (weekly, over 4 weeks or 2-3 full days). They completed pre and post questionnaires measuring wellbeing and resilience associated with acculturation processes. The participants as well as the facilitators of the intervention completed open-ended questionnaires about the process and short-term impact of the intervention. Results A series of analyses of variances indicated an overall improvement in participants’ wellbeing and resilience associated with the acculturation process. However, this improvement was not influenced by the format of the intervention, gender, visa status (refugee versus migrant), or duration of stay in Australia. Conclusions The qualitative data highlighted new skills learned by the participants as well areas for further improvements. The application of the intervention in school and community settings is discussed.