This article presents a situation-specific theory of well-being in refugee women experiencing cultural transition. The theory resulted from 2 studies, an ethnography and a community-based collaborative action research project, with refugee women from South Sudan, who were resettled to the United States. The theory extends the middle-range theory of transition to include cultural transition as a distinct type of transition with a unique set of properties and conditions including 3 phases-separation, liminality, and integration. Community action research is discussed as a culturally relevant intervention for nurses working with immigrants and refugee populations to foster well-being in resettlement. © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

community-based collaborative action research postcolonial critical feminism Cultural Transition Situation-specific theory Ethnography

refugee Interpersonal Relations psychological aspect human Refugees middle aged health status Adaptation, Psychological social support ethnology human relation United States Young Adult Humans Acculturation female adaptive behavior cultural factor women's health Article adult Cultural Characteristics attitude to health Sudan