Protective and Promotive Factors in Migrant and Refugee Children Facing Violence: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Migrant and refugee children are at risk of experiencing various forms of violence before, during, or after migration. This study systematically identifies, reviews, and synthesizes evidence on protective and promotive factors that contribute to the resilience of migrant and refugee children facing violence. Of the 3,663 articles identified through search in five electronic databases and snowball technique, 31 quantitative or qualitative research studies met the inclusion criteria. To be included in the review, studies had to (1) have been published after 2013; (2) have been published in English; (3) include migrant or refugee children and/or adolescents aged 18 or below at the time of interview or migration; (4) mention some types of maltreatment, peer violence, or community violence faced by the children or adolescents; (5) examine the association between the hypothesized protective or promotive factors and indicators of adaptive functioning; and (6) include outcome measures that assessed adaptive functioning such as well-being or absence or low-levels of internalizing and externalizing problems. Quality assessment did not lead to the exclusion of any studies. Five levels of protective and promotive factors were identified: individual, family, school and peers, community, and spatial dimension, which converged to highlight the importance of regulatory, interpersonal, and meaning-making strengths for these children. Understanding and addressing these protective and promotive factors is crucial for promoting well-being and improving mental health outcomes in migrant and refugee children facing violence. The findings of this review have significant implications for designing intervention programs and public policies that support these children effectively.