A qualitative approach was used to interview 23 Sudanese refugees residing in Brisbane, Australia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to examine the participants' pre-migration, transit and post-migration experiences. Refugees reported traumatic and life-threatening experiences during the pre-migration and transit phases, and difficulties with resettlement during the post-migration phase. Nevertheless, participants reported using a number of coping strategies across all phases, including: reliance on religious beliefs, cognitive strategies such as reframing the situation, relying on their inner resources, and focusing on future wishes and aspirations. Social support also emerged as a salient coping strategy. The findings are useful for mental health professionals as they highlight the difficulties experienced by refugees across phases of migration as well as strategies they use to manage these traumas and stresses. © 2008, SAGE Publications. All rights reserved.

Refugees difficulties and coping

refugee Australia clinical trial mental health human Life Change Events Refugees middle aged violence controlled study Internal-External Control coping behavior social network Adaptation, Psychological social support religion patient counseling emotional stability Humans African Continental Ancestry Group male semi structured interview Acculturation female cognition Religion and Psychology qualitative analysis Article experience adult migration posttraumatic stress disorder Prejudice Queensland lifespan psychotrauma health practitioner Culture Sudan