International Journal of Behavioral Development
Volume 42, Issue 1, 2018, Pages 52-63

Resilience and acculturation among unaccompanied refugee minors (Article)

Keles S.* , Friborg O. , Idsøe T. , Sirin S. , Oppedal B.
  • a Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Department of Child Development and Mental Health, Oslo, Norway
  • b UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Psychology, Tromso, Norway
  • c Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Department of Child Development and Mental Health, Oslo, Norway, University of Oslo, Norwegian Center for Child Behavioural Development, Oslo, Norway
  • d New York University, Department of Applied PsychologyNY, United States
  • e Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Department of Child Development and Mental Health, Oslo, Norway

Abstract

The present study was designed to understand differences between unaccompanied refugees who retained or achieved good mental health (healthy or resilient) and those who maintained or developed poor mental health (clinical and vulnerable). Using person-based analyses, the role of pre-migration traumatic exposure and acculturation-related factors in long-term trajectories of psychological adjustment among unaccompanied refugees was explored. This study included three waves of data collection in a population-based sample. The participants were 918 unaccompanied refugees who had received asylum and residence status in Norway. The pattern of change in depression symptoms over time was used to characterize subgroups displaying resilient, vulnerable, clinical or healthy trajectories. Results indicated that the extent of post-migration acculturation hassles and heritage culture competence, as well as pre-migration traumatic events and gender, distinguished the refugee groups in terms of mental health trajectories. The implications for clinical practice and immigration policy are discussed. © 2016, © The Author(s) 2016.

Author Keywords

Culture competence acculturation hassles Resilience unaccompanied refugee minors

Index Keywords

information processing male human female inheritance clinical practice refugee cultural factor Norway psychological adjustment mental health immigration adult gender
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85037723198&doi=10.1177%2f0165025416658136&partnerID=40&md5=b926604e64d0af27b99a4ccfefbcb1c7
DOI: 10.1177/0165025416658136
ISSN: 01650254
Cited by: 13
Original Language: English