European Journal of Psychotherapy and Counselling
Volume 18, Issue 3, 2016, Pages 252-270

Negotiating motherhood as a refugee: experiences of loss, love, survival and pain in the context of forced migration [Négocier la maternité en tant que refugiée: expériences de la perte, de l’amour, de la survie et de la douleur dans un contexte de migration forcée] [Η διαπραγμάτευση της μητρότητας από τις πρόσφυγες: Εμπειρίες απώλειας, αγάπης, επιβίωσης και πόνου στο πλαίσιο της αναγκαστικής μετανάστευσης] [Negoziare la maternità come rifugiati: esperienze di perdita, amore, sopravvivenza e dolore nel contesto delle migrazioni forzate] [NEGOCIANDO LA MATERNIDAD COMO UNA REFUGIADA: Experiencias de pérdida, amor, supervivencia y dolor en el contexto de inmigración forzada] (Article)

Kelly A.* , Nel P.W. , Nolte L.
  • a CFCS Integrated Neighbourhood Team (South), Newham Child & Family Consultation Service (CAMHS), East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
  • b Department of Psychology & Sport Science, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom
  • c Department of Psychology & Sport Science, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom

Abstract

The mental health of refugees has been an increasingly researched area, but has been criticised for having an individualised and symptom-focused approach to understanding the experience of forced migration. This paper attempts to respond to calls to address this culturally limited and incomplete way of conceptualising responses to experiences of persecution and terror bound up within global hegemony and power inequalities. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed to analyse semi-structured interviews undertaken with six refugee mothers, with the aim of exploring how participants made sense of, and created meaning around parenting and family life in the UK. Three main themes emerged from the data analysis (a) loss as a constant companion to parenting; (b) a shifting view of the self as a mother; and (c) taking the good with the bad in family life. Methodological limitations, as well as implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Author Keywords

qualitative research IPA parents Mental health Refugees Mothers Well-being

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84984704936&doi=10.1080%2f13642537.2016.1214160&partnerID=40&md5=f883ea8419127bfa4ddc652d401c0e55
DOI: 10.1080/13642537.2016.1214160
ISSN: 13642537
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English