Being alone or becoming lonely? The complexity of portraying ‘unaccompanied children’ as being alone in Sweden

Herz, Marcus; Lalander, Philip

doi:10.1080/13676261.2017.1306037

Cited by 66 publications

(95 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Dishion and Loeber, 1985;Svensson, 2003). However, even if URM do not have close family members with them in the country of resettlement, their families may still be a source of support, and they may also have, or desire, other important relationships (Herz and Lalander, 2017) that can serve both to provide social support and exert social control (Eide and Hjern, 2013). Furthermore, there are studies indicating that URM are resilient, have high ambitions and cope with their situation in a positive way (Ç elikaksoy and Wadensjö , 2017; Kohli and Mather, 2003;Raghallaigh and Gilligan, 2010), characteristics that might serve as protection in relation to an antisocial development.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drug use and criminality among unaccompanied refugee minors: a review of the literature

Ivert

Magnusson

2019

IJMHSC

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Purpose Organisations working with children have acknowledged that unaccompanied refugee minors (URM) across Europe are exposed to environments and situations that put them at risk for becoming addicted to drugs or becoming involved in crime. The purpose of this paper is to study an examination of existing international research concerning URM and of whether, and if so how, issues relating to drug use and criminality among these children are discussed in the international literature. Design/methodology/approach A literature review was conducted using PsycINFO, PubMed, Sociological abstracts and ERIC databases, which together cover the social and behavioural science and also medicine. Findings Findings from the present review show that the issues of drug abuse and criminality among URM are rarely acknowledged in the international research literature. When the occurrence of substance abuse and/or criminality is discussed, it is often in relation to mental health problems and in terms of self-medication, i.e. that alcohol or drugs are used by the URM to cope with painful experiences or mental health problems, and also with the challenges of integrating into a new society, difficulties finding work, unsuitable living conditions and a lack of social support. Originality/value This review shows that several researchers have emphasised that untreated mental health problems, stressful living conditions and a lack of support and control might put these children at risk for substance abuse and criminality, and this suggests a need for further research in this area.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drug use and criminality among unaccompanied refugee minors: a review of the literature

Ivert

Magnusson

2019

IJMHSC

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“…Secondly, there is also a growing body of research on children and adolescents, and loneliness (Krause-Parello 2008; Liepins and Cline 2011). Herz and Lalander (2017) followed "unaccompanied minors" ethnographically over time and showed how young people who might well be experiencing loneliness might simultaneously express a frustration over being repeatedly labelled "unaccompanied" and "lonely" (Kirova 2003;Asher and Paquette 2003). The interactive and symbolic relationship between self and society is evident in this research.…”

Section: Survey Of the Researchmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…A person might, for example, have a rich social life but nevertheless feel lonely; conversely, solitary lifestyles do not always include experienced loneliness (Klinenberg 2012). As we see it, loneliness emerges in the gap or interface between society and the individual (Herz and Lalander 2017). It is an emotion in motion, which is also related to the experience of what one needs to avoid feeling lonely (Weiss 1973).…”

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confidence: 99%

The Web of Loneliness: A Netnographic Study of Narratives of Being Alone in an Online Context

Johansson

Andreasson

2017

Social Sciences

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Using a netnographic and case-study-based approach, this article uses different blogs as data in order to analyse how loneliness is conceptualized and understood. More precisely, the study aims to investigate experiences of loneliness and related themes in the context of online communication. In approaching the nature of loneliness, we have analytically leaned on the theories and some of the most basic assumptions of symbolic interactionism, according to which, social encounters and situations, their qualities and their existence, have a profound impact on emotional life. This study can be read as an archaeology of online loneliness and the findings suggest that the experiences of online loneliness can be categorized in different genres, such as the poetics of loneliness, the diagnostics and self-harm of loneliness, and loneliness and family life. Although loneliness is approached and discussed differently, the bloggers' estranged relationships to society tie these identified genres of loneliness together. The different genres derive their character, form and social dynamics from the narrators' struggle and urge to somehow find a way to fit into contemporary society and achieve satisfying social relationships. Furthermore, displaying and presenting the self, and thus becoming the object of other people's attention and interest, in the context of online communication, can be a profound way of reconnecting to society and hopefully avoiding isolation and marginalization.

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“…Importantly, sociologists, anthropologists, and cultural geographers also situate young people's agency within specific social, political, and economic contexts across developmental time and geopolitical space (Meyer and Jepperson ; Jeffrey ; Linton et al ; Vogt ). Complementarily, the recent psychological literature examines the ways in which abuse and traumas further impact young people's opportunities and abilities to exert social agency and under what conditions (Carswell, Blackburn, and Barker ; Herz and Lalander ). This wide recognition of young people's power and capacity demands meaningful attention to how young people conceptualize and articulate their own best interests.…”

Section: Best Interests In Practice With Unaccompanied Childrenmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Better “Best Interests”: Immigration Policy in a Comparative Context

Statz

Heidbrink

2019

Law & Policy

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This conceptual article examines the role and limitations of the best interests standard in international and domestic policy, with a particular focus on how the standard is implicated in the treatment of unaccompanied minors in the United States. Motivated by emergent interdisciplinary scholarship on global youth and informed by a comparative consideration of best interests across other professions, we propose a new model of best interests. This model calls for a multidimensional recognition of youths' family-, community-and decision-making contexts; acknowledgment of youths' rights; and a commitment to speaking with, rather than for, young people. What results is a novel and dynamic understanding of best interests with relevance to scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.

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Being alone or becoming lonely? The complexity of portraying ‘unaccompanied children’ as being alone in Sweden

Cited by 66 publications

References 28 publications

Drug use and criminality among unaccompanied refugee minors: a review of the literature

Drug use and criminality among unaccompanied refugee minors: a review of the literature

The Web of Loneliness: A Netnographic Study of Narratives of Being Alone in an Online Context

A Better “Best Interests”: Immigration Policy in a Comparative Context

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