Children and Youth Services Review
Volume 85, 2018, Pages 99-106

Health, social integration and social support: The lived experiences of young Middle-Eastern refugees living in Melbourne, Australia (Article)

Liamputtong P.* , Kurban H.
  • a School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales 2751, Australia
  • b School of Psychology and Public Health, College of Science, Health & Engineering, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia

Abstract

Based on the therapeutic landscape theory, this paper examines how young Middle-Eastern refugee individuals perceive their health and wellbeing and addresses the barriers they face in their new homeland and the means that helped them to form social connections in their new social environment. Qualitative methods (in-depth interviews and mapping activities) were conducted with ten young people from refugee backgrounds. Thematic analysis method was used to analyse the data. Findings suggested that the young refugees face various structural and cultural inequalities that significantly influenced their health and wellbeing. Mental wellbeing was their greatest health concern. All participants reported the significant influence of the English language on their ability to adapt and form connections with their social environment. The presence of positive social support in their new social environment had a great impact on the health and wellbeing of the participants. The findings of this study contributed to the role of therapeutic landscapes and social support in helping young refugees to feel that they belonged to the society, and hence assisted them to better adapt to their new living situation. © 2017

Author Keywords

qualitative research Australia Social support Middle-eastern language Health Refugees Young people

Index Keywords

personal experience refugee Australia English (language) human social support qualitative research interview male female qualitative analysis landscape theoretical study Article integration thematic analysis adult Social Environment human experiment psychological well-being

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85040688729&doi=10.1016%2fj.childyouth.2017.12.020&partnerID=40&md5=a0054ece72af10d09ecd9c791051be03

DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.12.020
ISSN: 01907409
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English