The strength of weak ties: the social networks of young separated asylum seekers and refugees in London

A life in waiting: Refugees' mental health and narratives of social suffering after European Union border closures in March 2016

“…Experiences of discrimination predict higher distress level among refugees (Beiser and Hou, 2016;Mölsä et al, 2017). People with a weak social network find it more difficult to cope with stressful situations and generally have more psychological problems than people with a large and close social network (Wallin and Ahlström, 2005;Wells, 2011). Many of the refugees had their social and family networks disrupted when they fled their home countries.…”

‘Sad to say but my whole life is on that computer’: reflecting on emotions, intimacies and consumption in difficult circumstances and how to make sure these issues are reflected in policy discourse

“…This paper suggests their particular salience in more difficult emotional and material contexts, and the need for further sympathetic explorations of the significance of affordable means of communication to less affluent young people. Such work might also avoid the assumption criticised by Wells (2011) that such young people's contacts are, or should be, exclusively local. Notably, Reggie was keen to maintain contact with friends elsewhere in the UK, while Penfold was excited by the idea of playing online games with contacts in China.…”

The social care needs of unaccompanied minors: the Irish experience

“…Clustering enables UAMs to have contact with other young people of a similar background as a supportive practice which militates against placement breakdown; and community venues, schools, churches, or mosques become important locations for the formation of networks (Valentine et al, 2009;Ní Raghallaigh, 2011). In conclusion, evidence points to the potential benefits of foster placements for UAMs, particularly when clustered in these ways, leading to enhanced opportunities for social integration and well-being (Wade et al, 2005;Hek, 2007;Wells, 2011).…”

“…As we alluded to earlier, they are not just passive subjects, but individuals possessing agency and independence in terms of their ability to negotiate their, often complex, journeys and deal with immigration, police and other authorities (Boyden and Hart, 2007;Wells, 2011). Their engagement with the migration process 'normally entails crossing of cultural as well as political boundaries, requiring a range of accommodations and dealing with complex networks of power, different social and cultural systems and diverse populations' (Hopkins and Hill, 2008, p. 257).…”

“…Their engagement with the migration process 'normally entails crossing of cultural as well as political boundaries, requiring a range of accommodations and dealing with complex networks of power, different social and cultural systems and diverse populations' (Hopkins and Hill, 2008, p. 257). There is growing evidence that UAMs can traverse these difficulties by creating systems of peer support and building social networks (Denov and Akesson, 2013) despite the overwhelming tendency for them to be seen, by child-saving institutions in particular, as dependent and socially isolated (Wells, 2011). Increasingly, attention is being paid to the resilience of UAMs and to their capacity to cope and do well in the face of adversity (Lustig et al 2004;Ní Raghallaigh & Gilligan, 2010;Smyth et al, 2015).…”