European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Volume 26, Issue 6, 2017, Pages 733-742

Unaccompanied refugee minors in Germany: attitudes of the general population towards a vulnerable group (Article) (Open Access)

Plener P.L.* , Groschwitz R.C. , Brähler E. , Sukale T. , Fegert J.M.
  • a Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Steinhoevelstr. 5, Ulm, 89075, Germany
  • b Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Steinhoevelstr. 5, Ulm, 89075, Germany
  • c Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
  • d Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Steinhoevelstr. 5, Ulm, 89075, Germany
  • e Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Steinhoevelstr. 5, Ulm, 89075, Germany

Abstract

Germany saw an increase in numbers of refugees in 2015, with nearly a third being below the age of 18. Unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs) present an especially vulnerable group. In addition to pre-flight and flight stress, the acculturation process can work as potential stressor, and we wanted to explore attitudes towards URM. We conducted a study in a representative sample (n = 2524) of the German population (ages 14 years or older) between January and March 2016. Only 22.8% of participants thought that Germany could accompany more URM. While few participants argued in support of immediate deportation of URM in general (38.6%) or of URM from the Middle East (35.3%), a majority advocated for immediate deportations of URM from the Balkan region (62%) or from Africa (51.1%). Difference in the variance regarding attitudes towards deportation was explained mostly by right-wing political attitudes as well as by islamophobic attitudes and general rejection of asylum seekers. High rates of approval were found for guaranteeing the same chances to schooling or apprenticeship for URM as to German children and for bestowing URM a right to permanent residence if they were able to complete school or apprenticeship. Education and qualification are key to integration. Studies about needs and wishes of URM consistently report a high motivation to learn the language of their new host country and attend school. At this point, hopes of URM and expectations of society meet, which underlines the importance of participation in education as key factor in integration. © 2017, The Author(s).

Author Keywords

Flight unaccompanied refugee minors URM Adolescents Refugee trauma

Index Keywords

vulnerable population Germany refugee human Refugees middle aged Middle East work Minors Aged housing asylum seeker Young Adult Humans psychology attitude Adolescent male female Africa Child Welfare school Article minor (person) major clinical study adult posttraumatic stress disorder foster care Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Balkan Peninsula social attitude
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85009174887&doi=10.1007%2fs00787-017-0943-9&partnerID=40&md5=47c522afbd0c6816867e5785a1731e36
DOI: 10.1007/s00787-017-0943-9
ISSN: 10188827
Cited by: 11
Original Language: English