Negotiating identity at the intersection of family legacy and present time life conditions: A qualitative exploration of central issues connected to identity and belonging in the lives of children of refugees

Abstract

IntroductionMost studies on refugee populations are organized around trauma-related issues and focus on explanations of pathological factors. Few studies are anchored in general developmental psychology with the aim of exploring normal age-specific developmental tasks and how the special circumstances associated with forced migration can influence that development. MethodsUsing an ecological and transactional understanding of developmental trajectories, this qualitative study explored issues connected to identity formation processes in an exile context based on interviews with 6 male and 10 female children of refugees (18–26 years) who have grown up in Norway. ResultsThe findings show that family experiences of war and conflict intersect with experiences of marginalization in exile. The interaction of these experiences influences the development of individual identity in cumulative and complex ways. Many of the participants expressed feelings of isolation, disconnectedness, and a lack of belonging. Nevertheless, though the participants described growing up facing major challenges, they also searched for ways to reframe their difficult personal and family histories into meaningful experiences. ConclusionsIn order to provide conditions and develop interventions that can support well-being and identity development, we need a better understanding of the different forces that influence the identity development of children of refugees. By foregrounding the participants’ experiences, and perspectives, we gained insight into different ways in which participants negotiate identity issues in relation to often contradictory demands and messages from family and the wider social context.