Resettled refugee families and their children's futures: Coherence, hope and support

Journal of Comparative Family Studies
Volume 40, Issue 5, 2009, Pages 677-697

Resettled refugee families and their children's futures: Coherence, hope and support (Article)

Atwell R.* , Gifford M. Sandra M.S. , McDonald-Wilmsen B.

^a 88 Hayfield Road, Oxford, OX2 6TU, United Kingdom
^b Refugee Health Research Centre, La Trobe University-School of Social Sciences, Level 4 Martin Building, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia
^c Refugee Health Research Centre, La Trobe University, Foundation House, 6 Gardiner Street, Brunswick, VIC 3056, Australia

Abstract

This paper investigates the factors which influence the ability of resettled refugee parents to envisage their adolescents' futures and support them in setting and achieving goals. It is based on the findings of a study of 10 refugee families from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, two to three years after they had arrived in Melbourne, Australia. Analysis of the findings draws on Antonovsky's 'sense of coherence' framework to highlight the conditions which assist refugee parents to negotiate their social environment and develop realistic ambitions for their families' futures. This framework is also used to point to ways in which refugee families might best be assisted by host communities to guide and support their children and thus overcome some of the potential intergenerational conflicts which can occur following resettlement.

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Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77950764425&partnerID=40&md5=9b158b8675f7521869238f4905e078df

ISSN: 00472328

Cited by: 34

Original Language: English