Relationships in a new country: A qualitative study of the social connections of refugee youth resettled in South Australia

Anstiss, Helena de; Savelsberg, Harry; Ziaian, Tahereh

doi:10.1080/13676261.2018.1508824

Cited by 19 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The sharing of knowledge, support, and the exchange of information through electronic communication are progressively impacting the integration of refugees (Marlowe, 2019). Mobile phones can also help the refugees to integrate in their new community by facilitating learning new languages, cultural participation, and bridging into a new society (De Anstiss et al, 2019). The ability to link up with other refugees is hugely reassuring for refugees and helps them establish trust, gain happiness, and start to build their future (Alencar, Kondova, & Ribbens, 2019).…”

Section: Use Of Mobile Phones Among Refugeesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the regression phase, cultural differences and other challenges lead to a lack of confidence, confusion, and a sense of exclusion from the host community. Mobile phones assist refugees with transition strategies aimed at learning the local language and developing their knowledge of the host's culture (De Anstiss et al 2019;Allam, 2020). By improving communication, mobile phones helped the participants in this study to bridge to the new place and improve connectivity with the host society (Kutscher & Kreß, 2018).…”

Section: The Use Of Mobile Phones In Navigating Culture Shockmentioning

confidence: 99%

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How Refugees in South Africa Use Mobile Phones for Social Connectedness

Vuningoma

Lorini

Chigona

2021

C&T '21: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Communities &Amp; Technologies - Wicked Problems in the Age Of

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Background: Refugees find it difficult to integrate and assimilate in their host country because of a myriad of challenges. Mobile phones have become one of the main tools for promoting their wellbeing and supporting the integration of refugee communities on the margins of society. Mobile phones can contribute towards reducing isolation and loneliness, and assist in improving interpersonal relations and fostering processes of assimilation. The purpose of the research:The main objective of this study was to examine how the use of mobile phones by refugees in South Africa contributes to their social connectedness. To this end, the study discusses the role of mobile phones in the process of acculturation, in creating a sense of belonging, and in maintaining relationships.Design/methodology/approach: This research employed a qualitative method and an interpretivist epistemological perspective. A conceptual framework was developed on the basis of a literature review. Data was collected from semi-structured interviews and WhatsApp group chats, and analysed using thematic analysis. The interviewees comprised 27 refugees living in South Africa, and the WhatsApp group had 15 members. Findings:The findings demonstrate that the refugees face a multitude of obstacles, including language and culture barriers, the challenge of obtaining legal status, physical separation from their friends and family, and feelings of being judged, insecure, and excluded. Mobile phone usage offers refugees several benefits, especially through their affordances that include accessing information, pursuing economic and institutional opportunities, enabling communication, and developing linguistic and cultural knowledge of the host country. At the same time, mobile phones enable refugees to maintain connection with their country of origin. Refugees nevertheless considered it difficult to develop a sense of belonging through their use of mobile phones. Research contribution:This study adds to perspectives on utilising mobile phones to achieve social connectedness for two categories of refugees: newcomers and old-timers. The study contributes to theory by proposing a framework for understanding and analysing the relationship between social connectedness and mobile phones. The study contributes to knowledge through the investigative approach of using WhatsApp group chat to collect data. The findings can contribute to enabling non-profit organisations and UNHCR to develop strategies and processes for providing interventions for refugees.

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Section: Use Of Mobile Phones Among Refugeesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Use Of Mobile Phones In Navigating Culture Shockmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Refugees in South Africa Use Mobile Phones for Social Connectedness

Vuningoma

Lorini

Chigona

2021

C&T '21: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Communities &Amp; Technologies - Wicked Problems in the Age Of

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“…A recent review of social network studies with refugees described the need for greater exploration of the conceptualization of social networks as they relate to refugees (Ahmed, Geraldine Chan, and Mutalib 2022). Indeed, social network research with refugees has tended to be either quantitative using name generators (Löbel 2020; Njeru et al 2020) or qualitative through in-depth interviews (de Anstiss, Savelsberg, and Ziaian 2019; Sundvall et al 2021). Although some studies have involved collaboration with local refugee communities, engagement has often been limited to translation rather than more meaningful and indepth colearning.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Expanding Social Network Conceptualization, Measurement, and Theory: Lessons from Transnational Refugee Populations

Greene

Hess

Soller

et al. 2023

Journal of Applied Social Science

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With forcible displacement at unprecedented levels and only expected to increase as conflict, economic inequities, and climate change escalate, it is critical to understand the ways in which social networks of migrants are disrupted and reconstituted in new contexts. This requires critical examination and expansion of existing social network conceptualization, measurement, and theory that considers transnational movement and experiences to ensure cultural and contextual validity. As part of a community-engaged intervention study designed to promote the well-being of recently resettled refugees by addressing social determinants of mental health, the social networks of refugees were measured over time. This paper describes the conceptualization, operationalization, data collection, and data analysis of refugees’ social networks; challenges and lessons learned; and implications for transdisciplinary social network theory and methodologies. Tracing the development of quantitative and qualitative instruments and participatory processes of iteratively refining them throughout implementation with four cohorts of refugees (2013–2017; N = 290) resettling in a medium-sized city in the Southwestern United States, we offer innovative ways of viewing social networks that expand conceptualization, improve measurement, and extend theory. Our findings address known challenges to social network data collection (e.g., instrument bias, participant recall bias, and interviewer capacity) and suggest how social networks data collection can be strengthened through approaches that include (1) community members as collaborative researchers, (2) transdisciplinary theoretical and methodological perspectives, and (3) team-based practices that share leadership, learning experiences, and responsibility for data analysis, interpretation, and dissemination.

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“…Even though qualitative research can answer questions regarding the experience of integration in both the refugee and the host group, only a small number of studies used a qualitative or mixed-methods approach (e.g. Anabtawi & Al Amad, 2019;de Anstiss et al, 2019;Parker, 2018). The dominance of quantitative and host-oriented research of intergroup relations shows a gap in the literature and a need to investigate the integration processes on a deeper level, with both groups.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…So far, stand-alone qualitative research of socio-psychological integration that tapped the refugee perspective focused mainly on their experience and understanding of integration (Ager & Strang, 2004), social connections and social capital of refugees (Anabtawi & Al Amad, 2017;de Anstiss et al, 2019) and their experiences of discrimination (Demir & Ozgul, 2019;Parker, 2018). In Croatia, qualitative and quantitative studies addressed the attitudes of the Croatian hosts towards immigrant workers and asylum seekers (Gregurović et al, 2016), the refugee perspective of socio-psychological integration and the hosts' attitudes towards the asylum beneficiaries (Ajduković et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integration of Refugees in Croatia – A Qualitative Study of the Integration Process and Intergroup Relations of Refugees from Syria

Kiralj

Ajduković

2022

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Based on the theoretical model of multidimensional, two-way, dynamic integration of refugee and host community, a qualitative study was done determining views on and experiences with integration of refugees from Syria and the host community in Croatia. Five focus group discussions were held, three with host members (N = 21) and two with refugees from Syria (N = 11). Four overarching themes emerged from the data in both groups: "Perspectives on integration", "Socioeconomic integration", "Intergroup relations", and "Culture, language and social obstacles to integration". They appeared consistently throughout discussions, with hosts and refugees providing a consensual view of refugee integration. They understood integration in the same way and recognised the need for both groups to adapt as part of the integration process. Croatia was perceived as a transit country and a temporary solution for refugees, which is an obstacle to integration. Emphasis was placed on the intergroup relations and the responsibility of the host society in providing tools and mechanisms that foster socio-economic and socio-psychological integration, overcome structural barriers and promote pleasant social contexts.

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Relationships in a new country: A qualitative study of the social connections of refugee youth resettled in South Australia

Cited by 19 publications

References 14 publications

How Refugees in South Africa Use Mobile Phones for Social Connectedness

How Refugees in South Africa Use Mobile Phones for Social Connectedness

Expanding Social Network Conceptualization, Measurement, and Theory: Lessons from Transnational Refugee Populations

Integration of Refugees in Croatia – A Qualitative Study of the Integration Process and Intergroup Relations of Refugees from Syria

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