Child and Family Social Work
2019

Exploring intergenerational communication and stress in refugee families (Article)

McCleary J.S.* , Shannon P.J. , Wieling E. , Becher E.
  • a Department of Social Work, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, MN, United States
  • b School of Social Work, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, United States
  • c Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, United States
  • d Extension Center for Family Development, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, United States

Abstract

More than half of the refugees who have resettled to the United States in recent years have been youth. Refugee youth have often witnessed or experienced violence and family separation prior to resettlement and face barriers to successful resettlement such as language and educational challenges. These factors elevate risk for mental and emotional distress, and protective factors like strong familial relationships are important to promoting mental well-being. This study utilized focus groups with 36 refugees ages 18 to 25 from four ethnic groups to explore conceptualizations of and communication about mental and emotional distress within and outside of family systems. Youth reported a nuanced conceptualization of their premigration and postmigration stressors and their patterns of communication about distress in three domains: (a) exposure to traumatic stress prior to resettlement, (b) stressful experiences in resettlement, and (c) communication about mental health inside and outside of family groups. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Author Keywords

Refugee youth refugee resettlement intergenerational communication

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85071373476&doi=10.1111%2fcfs.12692&partnerID=40&md5=add95b0c77bb043540a0fd8026ece252
DOI: 10.1111/cfs.12692
ISSN: 13567500
Original Language: English