Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies
Volume 12, Issue 3, 2014, Pages 311-330

Distress, Coping, and Posttraumatic Growth in Refugees From Burma (Article)

Shakespeare-Finch J.* , Schweitzer R.D. , King J. , Brough M.
  • a School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
  • b School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
  • c School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
  • d School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

Abstract

Refugees flee their countries of origin due to supreme hardship and threat to life, frequently having witnessed mass atrocities. This research is embedded in a salutogenic paradigm that emphasizes strength and adjustment. Twenty-five refugees from Burma who were newly arrived in Australia were interviewed and transcripts were analyzed using an Interpretive Phenomenological Analytic (IPA) approach. In addition to themes of distress, data revealed an extraordinary adaptive capacity and highlighted strengths, both individual and collective. Specific adaptive strategies included religiousness and a sense of duty to family, community, and country. Findings have implications for policy and practice that aim to support refugees and asylum seekers. © 2014 Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Author Keywords

Resilience Burma Refugees salutogenic Strength trauma

Index Keywords

refugee Myanmar Australia asylum seeker forced migration coping strategy
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84906348944&doi=10.1080%2f15562948.2013.844876&partnerID=40&md5=e09bd579e8e804d25289fa1ba6ee0549
DOI: 10.1080/15562948.2013.844876
ISSN: 15562948
Cited by: 9
Original Language: English