Unaccompanied Refugee Research Articles

Collaboration Between Social Workers and Music Therapists in a Child Welfare Context for Unaccompanied Refugee Children

Collaboration Between Social Workers and Music Therapists in a Child Welfare Context for Unaccompanied Refugee Children

Agreement for posttraumatic stress symptoms among unaccompanied young refugees and professional caregivers

ABSTRACT Background: Prevalence rates for posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in unaccompanied young refugees (UYRs) are high. Research with biological parents indicates low agreement rates between self and caregiver reports for PTSS, although caregivers play an important role as gatekeepers to ensure appropriate treatment. Objective: This study examines youth and caregiver agreement on the endorsement of different trauma types, the PTSS severity score and symptom clusters, as well as the potential association between youth factors (age, comorbidity, and duration in facility) and disagreement. Method: The sample consisted of N = 610 UYRs, aged M = 16.75 (SD = 1.33, range: 12–20) years. Of these, 91.0% were male, and 43.4% were from Afghanistan, currently residing in German children and youth welfare facilities. Results: Agreement rates across trauma types were poor (accidental trauma: Cohen’s k = .13; community violence: Cohen’s k = .07; domestic violence: Cohen’s k = .19; sexual abuse: Cohen’s k = .38). Agreement rates for the PTSS severity score (ICC = .22) and symptom clusters were poor (re-experiencing: ICC = .27; avoidance: ICC = .02; negative alterations in cognitions and mood ICC = .12; hyperarousal: ICC = .25), with youth reporting significantly higher scores. Regression models showed that having comorbid symptoms and a shorter duration in the facility were associated with higher disagreement at the PTSS severity score (Adjusted ­R 2 = .21) and across symptom clusters (re-experiencing: Adjusted ­R 2 = .13; avoidance: Adjusted ­R 2 = .07; negative alterations in cognitions and mood: Adjusted ­R 2 = .16; hyperarousal: Adjusted­ R 2 = .16). Age was not significantly associated with disagreement rates. Conclusion: It is important to enhance the awareness and comprehension of caregivers regarding recognition of mental illnesses and their symptoms as well as assessing mental health among UYRs.

Trajectories of mental health problems in unaccompanied young refugees in Germany and the impact of post-migration factors - a longitudinal study.

Unaccompanied young refugees (UYRs) are at an elevated risk of continuing psychological distress, including posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), depression, and anxiety. The post-arrival situation in a host country plays an important role in increasing or reducing mental health risks for UYRs. This study aimed to examine the trajectory of psychological distress and post-migration factors experienced by UYRs in Germany with five assessments every six months over a two-year period.Standardised self-report questionnaires were used to assess PTSS (CATS-2), depression (PHQ-9), and anxiety (GAD-7) symptoms. Material and social stressors (DSSYR), sociocultural adjustment (BSAS), frequency of contact with family members, and distress regarding asylum status were included as post-migration factors. N = 131 UYRs (Mage = 17.04; SDage = 1.46; 81.1% male) living in residential care facilities in Germany were included in this study. There was a significant loss to follow up with n = 77 after 12 months at T2 (59% attrition), and n = 37 after 24 months at T4 (28% attrition).At baseline, clinically relevant symptom scores were found in 48.1% for PTSS, 42.0% for depression, and 22.9% for anxiety. Analysis of latent growth curve models revealed that the symptom severity of depression and anxiety did not change substantially over one year, but PTSS showed a significant decline. The number of traumatic events affected initial levels of mental health problems but not their trajectory over time. The impact of post-migration factors varied between measurement points and outcome measures and did not result in a homogeneous pattern.Despite limitations, this study demonstrated the persistence of high levels of psychological distress in UYRs. Effective interventions are required at an early stage to prevent chronic trajectories and support systems should adapt to constantly changing circumstances.Trial registration number/date of registration: DRKS00017453/11th December 2019.

Examining psychological flexibility in unaccompanied refugee minors: A network analysis

BackgroundRefugees, particularly unaccompanied refugee minors (URM), often report poor mental health. Psychological Flexibility (PF), derived from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), appears to positively impact mental health in various populations, including adolescents and refugees. ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the structure of the PF model and the connections among its core processes, as well as the structure and connections between mental health constructs (i.e., post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, stress, quality of life) and PF in URM. Methods100 URM aged 13–18 years living in shelters in the Republic of Cyprus completed four self-reports, assessing depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS-21), PF (Psy-Flex), PTSD (CRIES-13), and HRQL (KIDSCREEN-10). Network Analysis was used to examine the structure and connections of the constructs. ResultsMost core PF processes showed positive connections amongst each other, with the strongest edge between committed action and values. Together with self as context, these core processes exhibited the highest expected influence. The strongest positive connections in the mental health network were found among stress, anxiety, and depression. Stress had the highest expected influence, whereas PF had the lowest. A post hoc Johnson-Neyman analysis suggested a buffering effect of PF on the impact of PTSD on anxiety and stress. ConclusionsProposed areas of focus for clinicians working with URM include incorporating strategies that address stress symptoms and facilitate individuals in pursuing value-based behavior. It is equally important to encourage critical reflection on values and the conceptualized self in the context of culture.

Conducting Research with Unaccompanied Refugee Minors within an Institutional Context: Challenges and Insights

The main goal of this paper is to explore the difficulties the refugee minors face in the process of seeking inclusion in Portugal. The project conducting this research takes place in a shelter for refugee minors in Portugal, and its inhabitants are the main focus of the analysis. The research is guided by Applied Anthropology which means that, in methodological terms, we use active listening, participant observation, and artistic workshops in drawing and photography in order to get to know them better and establish a closer relationship with the minors. Our interlocutors are refugee minors, boys and girls, aged between 15 and 18, who have been institutionalized by an NGOD responsible for hosting them in Portugal while they await their residence permit. These minors are characterized by a diversity of nationalities, socio-cultural and ethnolinguistic references and different life projects. The artistic focus (drawing and photography) is explored as a non-invasive methodology, a tool that best helps to express emotions, perceptions and desires in a creative and uncompromising way. We chose to focus our analysis not on the traumatic past, as is usually the case when it comes to refugees, but on the future. In other words: we invite these minors to think about their future, what they want for themselves in Portugal and the European Union. As we discuss our difficulties of conducting fieldwork in the institutionalized context, we conclude the article with the idea that working with refugee minors in that environment should not be an end in and of itself, but rather an opportunity to do more profound research. This investigation should continue, preferably outside the institutional gates, on a more personalized basis. As a practical goal, we also propose the idea of organizing an exhibition with the results of the workshops to facilitate the two-way process of inclusion.

Frontiers of Belonging: The Education of Unaccompanied Refugee Youth Annika Lems

Frontiers of Belonging: The Education of Unaccompanied Refugee Youth Annika Lems

“The Story's in the Telling”

Abstract This article develops the narratological approach to well-being research through the novel use of literary theory. It is the first article to explore the role of narrative genre in how unaccompanied refugee and migrant youth expressed their life projects and experiences of confronting the challenges and opportunities of the migration and asylum regime. It argues that narrative is important to understanding their life projects and well-being needs, as well as to how they understand themselves in relation to society and how likely they are to interact (or not) with support structures. Five main narrative genres are discussed that were encountered in mixed-methods ethnographic fieldwork with over 100 individuals in England and Italy: (1) tragedy, (2) comedy, (3) epic, (4) confession, and (5) fantasy. The article interrogates the value of “truth” in these narratives and concludes that storytelling is fundamentally linked to the sense of ontological security, which is vital to the youths’ subjective well-being.

Psychometric properties of the Children’s Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-8) among refugee adolescents from Afghanistan, Syria, and Somalia

ABSTRACT Background: High levels of post-traumatic stress are well documented among refugees. Yet, refugee adolescents display high heterogeneity in their type of trauma and symptom levels. Objective: Following the recurrent plea for validated trauma screening tools, this study investigated the psychometric properties of the Children’s Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-8) among refugee adolescents from Afghanistan (n = 148), Syria (n = 234), and Somalia (n = 175) living in Europe. Method: The model fit for the confirmatory factor structures was tested, as well as measurement invariance between the three groups. The robustness of results was evaluated by testing measurement invariance between recently arrived and settled adolescents, and between different response labelling options. Reliability (α, ω, and ordinal α), criterion validity, and prevalence estimates were calculated. Results: The intrusion subscale showed a better stable model fit than the avoidance subscale, but the two-factor structure was mainly supported. Configural measurement invariance was achieved between Afghan and Somali adolescents, and strong measurement invariance between Syrian and Somali adolescents. The results were robust considering the time living in the host country and response labelling styles. Reliability was low among Afghan and Syrian adolescents (.717−.856), whereas it was higher among Somali adolescents (.831−.887). The total score had medium-sized correlations with emotional problems (.303−.418) and low correlations with hyperactivity (.077−.155). There were statistically significant differences in symptom prevalence: Afghan adolescents had higher prevalence (55.5%) than Syrian (42.8%) and Somali (37%) adolescents, and unaccompanied refugee minors had higher symptom prevalence (63.5%) than accompanied adolescents (40.7%). Conclusions: This study mostly supports the use of the CRIES-8 among adolescents from Afghanistan, Syria, and Somalia, and even comparative analyses of group means. Variation in reliability estimates, however, makes diagnostic predictions difficult, as the risk of misclassification is high.

The impact of the COVID-19 measures on the lives of unaccompanied refugee minors

Background:Recent research found that the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures to contain it had a largely negative impact on well-being. In addition, a vast number of studies have shown significantly increased levels of traumatization and behavioural problems amongst URM, pointing out the vulnerability of this population. This study aimed at evaluating both the adaptive functioning and life satisfaction of URM, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on life satisfaction. Methods:101 URM completed the questionnaires. Results: URM had higher levels of trauma symptoms (t(100) = 8.69; p < .001) and more behavioural problems (t(100) = 6.83; p < .001) as compared to Belgian peers. Nevertheless, we did find higher levels of resilience (t(100) = 2.33; p < .05) amongst our sample. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted both experiences and satisfaction across all life domains. Conclusions: These findings all point out that the development of URM is at risk even after arrival in the host country and that the likelihood of mental health problems is high also in the host country. Offering professional mental healthcare and facilitating social bonds and integration is important. In addition, given the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on wellbeing, extra attention and support should go out to more vulnerable populations, such as URM, during times of (inter)national crisis.

Agency in Silence: The Case of Unaccompanied Eritrean Refugee Minors in the Netherlands

Following the so‐called refugee crisis, unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs) from Eritrea were portrayed negatively in Europe. Although such portrayals are often amplified by media and policy discourses, the main reasons for this negative view were a lack of understanding of URMs’ subjectivities, the institutional silencing process they face in their everyday lives, and the ways they show agency in such precarity. This article addresses institutional silencing practices that Eritrean URMs encounter and the various ways they engage with them. Using data gathered during 2016–2018 from Eritrean URMs in the Netherlands, we explore how participants navigate the exclusionary processes they encounter in relation to institutions, such as refugee reception centres, refugee protection organizations, immigration authorities, and schools. Inspired by Sherry Ortner’s and Saba Mahmood’s work, we show the importance of less dominant forms of agency (delayed or docile forms) in how URMs engage with the power of institutional silencing practices. We then show the (often unseen) agency of these young people as the desire of the “less powerful” or “less resourceful” to “play their own serious games even as more powerful parties seek to devalue and even destroy them” (Ortner, 2006, p. 147).

During the chaos of war: US adoptions and risks for unaccompanied Ukrainian refugee children

The adoption of Ukrainian children, by US citizens, is examined as the Ukrainian government ceases adoptions of children during the chaos of war. Intercountry adoption dynamics are presented with data from 2021, prior to the conflict in 2022. Then, the situation regarding child rights and the official Ukrainian government position are considered. Implications for guardianship and foster care of unaccompanied refugee minors are presented along with other critical risks to Ukrainian children living in another country. Implications for social work practice are concluded and child rights advocacy is encouraged as a macro intervention.

Protective factors associated with resilience among unaccompanied refugee minors after settling in Norway: a matched cross-sectional study

This study aimed to examine protective factors associated with resilience among unaccompanied refugee minors in comparison to their Norwegian peers and to examine associations between resilience factors and characteristics related to positive outcomes among unaccompanied minors. Data stem from the Pathways to Independence study conducted in Bergen municipality, Norway in 2018–2019 where 81 unaccompanied minors aged 15–20 participated (83.3% male; 80% response rate). An age- and sex-matched control group of 324 adolescents was retrieved from the youth@hordaland study conducted in Norway in 2012. Resilience factors were assessed by the Resilience Scale for Adolescents. Unaccompanied minors reported lower scores on Goal Orientation (d = 0.4), Social Competence (d = 0.4), and Social Support (d = 0.7) compared to Norwegian adolescents. Being male was associated with lower scores on Goal Orientation (standardized mean difference [SMD] = − 0.9) and Social Support (SMD = − 0.9) among unaccompanied minors, while being in frequent contact with family in the home country was associated with higher scores on all resilience factors (SMD range = 0.6–1.1). The number of leisure activities was associated with Social Competence (SMD = 0.22). There were no significant associations between the resilience factors and amount of support in the living arrangements or contact with the child welfare services. Unaccompanied minors reported fewer resilience factors compared to Norwegian adolescents, indicating that they may have different needs compared to other adolescents. Our study also suggests that frequent contact with family in the home country may be important to bolster positive development for unaccompanied minors after settlement.

Post-migration stress, quality of life, and mental health among accompanied and unaccompanied young refugees in Germany: How do adolescents feel after fleeing?

This study examines the impact of post-migration living difficulties (PMLDs) and quality of life (QoL) on the mental health of 55 young refugees who arrived in Germany either accompanied or unaccompanied. The results reveal that nearly 62% of the participants exhibited clinically significant symptoms of depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. Regression analyses indicate that psychopathology was associated with being unaccompanied and experiencing lower QoL, while QoL was associated with higher economic status and lower PMLDs. Mediation analysis further demonstrates that higher economic status and reduced PMLDs were associated with higher QoL, which, in turn, correlated with lower levels of psychopathology. These findings emphasise the importance of considering PMLDs and QoL, as well as economic status and being accompanied/unaccompanied, in the assessment and treatment of young refugees in the host country.

(Nanny) State as family by proxy

In this article, we extend the boundaries of research on family language policy (FLP) by addressing the situation that occurs when the State takes over the care of unaccompanied minor refugees and asylum-seekers, thereby assuming by proxy the responsibilities normally assigned to families. We analyse media discourses involving unaccompanied minors (UMs) in Norway, a Scandinavian country perceived as having liberal policies, in a corpus of 30 articles published between 2016 and 2017, a significant period of immigration in a European context. Our analysis reveals a polarized debate around these children, often termed anchor children, who allegedly aim for future biological family reunification. Assuming the family role as proxy, Norway is referred to as a Nanny State, making decisions for the UMs regarding their well-being, education and language learning. Engaging with recent calls for decolonizing and southernizing critical discourse studies (CDS), we anchor our analysis onto decoloniality. We argue that this epistemological move allows us to identify opposing understandings of culture undergirding two competing sides in debates about UMs in Norway. The study has both theoretical and methodological implications for future conceptualizations of the family in FLP research.

Perspectives Matter: Insecure Residency Status Accounts for Aggressive Emotions in Adolescent Refugees

Unaccompanied refugees are a high-risk group for trauma-induced psychiatric disorders. Besides traumatic experiences pre- and during migration, post-migration stressors such as insecure residency status affect refugees’ mental health and foster aggressive emotions. High levels of psychological distress and psychopathology distort time perspectives. Consequently, an insecure residency status linked to distress may influence a refugee’s time perspective. This study investigated psychological distress, PTSD symptoms, aggressive emotions, and time perspectives in 33 unaccompanied adolescent refugees with and without secure residency status in Germany. Refugees with precarious residency status showed higher levels of overall distress and aggression than individuals with secure residency status. Both groups revealed a distorted time perspective profile, but individuals with a residence permit showed a stronger orientation toward the present hedonistic perspective than those without a permit. Higher aggressive emotions were related to insecure status, higher levels of psychological distress, more pronounced PTSD symptoms, and lower orientation to future time perspective. Distorted time perspectives among refugees may be caused by traumatic experiences and having been uprooted, independently of their residency status in the host country. A higher future orientation may buffer the association between distorted time perspectives and aggressive emotions in the highly stressed group of unaccompanied adolescent refugees.

Life Satisfaction among Unaccompanied Refugee Minors: Associations with Traumatic Events and Daily Hassles

While there is a growing literature about mental health problems among unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee minors (URMs), far less is known about their wellbeing. Such information is important as a subjective sense of wellbeing is associated with a variety of positive health and psychosocial outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine life satisfaction and the association with traumatic events, daily hassles, and asylum status among URMs in Norway. We collected self-report questionnaire data from URMs living in Norway (n = 173, 90.80% male, 71.1% from Afghanistan). Mean age was 16.62 (SD = 1.74) years, and they reported clinically relevant post-traumatic stress symptoms. We explored variation in life satisfaction, URM-specific daily hassles and traumatic events. We also investigated a mediation model, in which we assumed that daily hassles mediated the association between traumatic events and life satisfaction. The participants reported low life satisfaction (M = 4.28, SD = 2.90, 0–10 scale). A negative outcome of the asylum process and URM-specific daily hassles were associated with reduced life satisfaction. URM-specific daily hassles accounted for the relation between traumatic events and life satisfaction. The youth had been exposed to several traumatic events yet the effect of these on life satisfaction appeared indirect, via an increase in URM-specific daily hassles. Reducing the number of, or help URM cope with, URM-specific daily hassles may increase their life satisfaction.

Family-like Relationships and Wellbeing of Young Refugees in Finland, Norway, and Scotland

In this article, we explore the role of family-like relationships in creating wellbeing for unaccompanied minor refugees (UMRs) to Europe. Our theoretical point of departure is a relational approach to wellbeing as conceptualized by Sarah C. White. The data comprises interviews with 51 settled UMRs in Finland, Norway, and Scotland, focused on their social networks, and a selection of paired interviews with young people alongside someone they defined as family-like and important for their wellbeing today. Findings illuminate the important role family-like relationships have in meeting the daily needs of young refugees. These relationships are ascribed meaning in the context of young people’s wider networks and ideas of ‘what family should do’. Family-like relationships gain particular importance for UMRs in two different ways: first, the physical absence of the family of origin enforces children and young people’s need to create trusted, reciprocal networks. Second, building family-like relationships is necessary in a new country where UMRs grow up and face new expectations, needs, and opportunities. We argue that relational wellbeing is built in a hybrid ‘third space’. A welfare state should support the wellbeing of UMRs by nurturing welcoming communities and providing UMRs help with building family-like relationships through formal and other support networks.

Mapping evidence-based interventions to the care of unaccompanied minor refugees using a group formulation approach.

How we adapt treatment algorithms to complex, clinically untested, difficult-to-engage patient groups without losing evidence base in everyday practice is a clinical challenge. Here we describe process and reasoning for fast, pragmatic, context-relevant and service-based adaptations of a group intervention for unaccompanied minor asylum seekers (UASC) arriving in Europe. We employed a distillation-matching model and deployment-focused process in a mixed-method, top-down (theory-driven) and bottom-up (participant-informed) approach. Prevalence of mental disorders amongst UASC is extremely high. They also represent a marginalised and hard-to-engage group with limited evidence for effective treatments. Content and process adaptations followed four steps: (1) descriptive local group characterisation and theoretical formulation of problems; (2) initial adaptation of evidenced treatment, based on problem-to-component grid; (3) iterative adaptation using triangulated feedback; and (4) small-scale pilot evaluation. Based on evidence and participant feedback, adaptations included minimising verbal demands, facilitating in-session inductive learning, fostering social connectedness via games, enhancing problem-solving skills, accounting for multi-traumatisation, uncertainty and deportation. Quantitative evaluation suggested improved feasibility, with increased attendance, low drop-out and symptom improvement on depression and trauma scores. By describing the principles under-pinning development of a group intervention for severely traumatised UASC, we contribute to the literature supporting dynamic adaptations of psychological interventions, without losing reference to evidence base. Complex and difficult-to-reach clinical groups are often those in most need of care, yet least researched and most affected by inequality of care. Pragmatic adaptations of proven programs are often necessary to increase feasibility.

Changing the Way Nonprofits Prepare: Lessons Learned from Early Resettlement of Rohingya Unaccompanied Refugee Minors

ABSTRACT The Rohingya, a stateless Muslim minority, have faced institutionalized discrimination and ethnic cleansing in Myanmar. Between 2013–2019, a cohort of 152 Rohingya youth were resettled to the US through the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) foster care program. The data in this study come from ten focus groups with 23 service providers. The data provide recommendations and best practices in nonprofit management and preparation for the next time the US resettles youth who are part of a cultural/ethnic group that is new to the URM Program. The challenges that foster care programs faced in welcoming Rohingya youth included: difficulty securing interpretation services, obstacles in providing adequate training to staff and foster parents prior to resettlement, and challenges in delivery of mental health services. The results show that service providers suggest future resettlement of new populations: use a geographic cohort model, supplement cultural orientation, and increase alternative mental health programming.

Placement breakdown in Flemish family foster care for unaccompanied refugee minors. Experiences of non-kinship foster parents

This qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with twelve foster parents who took care of unaccompanied refugee minors (URM; mainly Afghan boys aged 15 to 16 years old) examines two research questions: “How do non-kinship foster parents of Caucasian ethnicity experience placement breakdown of unaccompanied children?”, and “What could have prevented placement breakdown?” Foster parents perceived breakdown as a failure and reported a major emotional impact on themselves, their children and on their family life. Although most of them thought breakdown could not have been avoided, three factors were reported: not assigning a study grant if the youngster is going to live independently, more psychological support for the URM, and connections to potential individuals or support systems who share the youths’ culture and traditions and who support the placement. All foster parents described multiple and various difficulties related to the care system, the URM and the social context that troubled the foster placement. Based on the experiences of foster parents several implications for practice and policy were formulated such as a better preparation, training and matching of the foster family and the URM, care planning that includes the needs of foster carers, their biological children and the URM for specialized support and adapted care; facilitating fellow contacts for foster parents and URM; organizing specialized training for foster care workers, and developing a post-intervention program for foster families who experienced breakdown.