Abstract
Police officers and social workers are key actors in the forced repatriation of unaccompanied asylum-seeking refugee children. Police officers are tasked with arranging the children’s departure, whereas social workers are responsible for the children’s well-being during their stay in Sweden. To gain a better understanding of how to handle stressors and cope effectively with forced repatriation work, the current study aimed to describe and compare police officers’ and social workers’ coping strategies for forced repatriation work, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and social support. Nationally distributed surveys to social workers (n = 380) and police officers (n = 714) with and without experience of forced repatriation were used, analyzed by univariate and multivariable regression models. The police officers used more planful problem-solving and self-controlling strategies, whereas the social workers used more escape-avoidance, distancing and positive reappraisal coping. Additionally, social workers with experience in forced repatriation used more planful problem-solving than those without experience. Police officers involved in forced repatriation manage their work stress via adaptive coping strategies and control over the situation, whereas social workers use more maladaptive coping strategies. Concrete tools are needed at the individual level to strengthen key actors’ ability to support the well-being of unaccompanied asylum-seeking refugee children.
Highlights
In Swedish, police officers and social workers have legal responsibilities in the forced repatriation of unaccompanied asylum-seeking refugee children (SFS 2001:453; SFS 2005:716)
The results indicated that psychological job demand was a significant predictor of poor mental health among both social workers and police officers involved in forced repatriation work
Of the 1,094 participants, 714 were police officers, of whom 157 had experience working with the forced repatriation of unaccompanied asylum-seeking refugee children
Summary
In Swedish, police officers and social workers have legal responsibilities in the forced repatriation of unaccompanied asylum-seeking refugee children (SFS 2001:453; SFS 2005:716). Sweden receives more unaccompanied asylum-seeking refugee children than any other country in Europe (Celikaksoy & Wadensjö, 2016), and the number of asylum applications for children increased from 7000 in 2014 to over 35,000 in 2015 (Swedish Migration Board, 2016). Social workers are by law (SFS 2001:453) responsible for the well-being of unaccompanied asylum-seeking refugee children during their entire stay in Sweden, whereas police officers are tasked with arranging the child’s departure. These professionals work with refugee children who often are afraid of what will happen when they return to their country of origin and who express their fear through powerful emotions. Police officers and social workers must carry out the government’s decision, forcing such children to leave a safe and wealthy country may evoke negative emotional and mental stress
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have