Journal of Youth Studies
Volume 14, Issue 2, 2011, Pages 179-195

Negotiating family, navigating resettlement: Family connectedness amongst resettled youth with refugee backgrounds living in Melbourne, Australia (Article)

McMichael C.* , Gifford S.M. , Correa-Velez I.
  • a La Trobe Refugee Research Centre, School of Social Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
  • b La Trobe Refugee Research Centre, School of Social Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
  • c La Trobe Refugee Research Centre, School of Social Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

Abstract

Refugee adolescents resettling in a new country face many challenges, and being part of a supportive family is a critical factor in assisting them to achieve wellbeing and create positive futures. This longitudinal study documents experiences of family life in the resettlement context of 120 young people with refugee backgrounds living in Melbourne, Australia. Family instability was a core feature of the early settlement period. In this paper, we focus specifically on changing household composition, and levels of trust, attachment, discipline and conflict in family settings during young people's first years of resettlement. Our results suggest that while families are central to the wellbeing of these young people, changing family dynamics can also pose a threat to wellbeing and successful settlement. We argue that youth focused settlement services must explicitly engage with family contexts in assisting refugee youth to achieve wellbeing and successfully resettle. © 2010 Taylor & Francis.

Author Keywords

youth Refugee Family

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79551569971&doi=10.1080%2f13676261.2010.506529&partnerID=40&md5=fe7c0045bd2cd583fc1f9946c7853cd7
DOI: 10.1080/13676261.2010.506529
ISSN: 13676261
Cited by: 38
Original Language: English