Trajectories of ambivalence and trust: experiences of unaccompanied refugee minors resettling in Norway

Recognition in the lives of unaccompanied children and youth: A review of the key European literature

“…Many of the studies reviewed presented unaccompanied children and youth as rather satisfied with the reception structures and procedures they encountered, especially when the focus was on the systems that secure children's basic needs, such as safety, shelter and food. However, many studies suggested the systems seemed to overlook other essential needs, such as full access to medical help while still waiting for the residency permit (Connolly, 2015; Lundberg & Dahlquist, 2012; Sedmak & Medarić, 2017; Sinha & Uppal, 2009); stable, caring, family‐like relationships (e.g., De Graeve & Bex, 2016; Eide, Lidén, Haugland, Fladstad, & Hauge, 2018; Herz & Lalander, 2017; Omland & Andenas, 2018; Wernesjö, 2015); social support and educational guidance (De Graeve & Bex, 2017; Oppedal, Guribye, & Kroger, 2017; Pastoor, 2015); and being heard and seen as unique individuals (e.g., De Graeve & Bex, 2017; Deveci, 2012; Kaukko & Wernesjö, 2017). According to some studies, the structures and procedures also tended to homogenize unaccompanied children and youth, for example, according to their legal status or age, while failing to recognize the diversity among this group (De Graeve & Bex, 2016, 2017; Derluyn, 2018; Kaukko & Wernesjö, 2017).…”

“…Moreover, many unaccompanied children and youth participating in the studies reviewed expressed feelings of utter loneliness and reported difficulties in creating trust. Several young people noted that even though they were surrounded by people, they missed their families and friends and wished to have someone in their lives they could lean on and trust (Bjerneld, Ismail, & Puthoopparambil, 2018; Chase, 2013; Deveci, 2012; Eide et al, 2018; Eriksson & Hedberg Rundgren, 2019; Gustafsson et al, 2012; Herz & Lalander, 2017; Lundberg & Dahlquist, 2012; Ní Raghallaigh, 2011, 2014; Ní Raghallaigh & Gilligan, 2010; Omland & Andenas, 2018; O'Toole Thommessen et al, 2015; O'Toole Thommessen, Corcoran, & Todd, 2017; Pastoor, 2015, 2017; Wernesjö, 2015). Many of the studies also illustrated how some of the participants had little or no contact with local residents outside their living units (Gustafsson et al, 2012; Herz & Lalander, 2017; Lundberg & Dahlquist, 2012; O'Toole Thommessen et al, 2017; Pastoor, 2017; Sedmak & Medarić, 2017; Wernesjö, 2015), despite their desire to make connections and form friendships with people in the local community (Bitzi & Landolt, 2017; Omland & Andenas, 2018; Pastoor, 2017; Sedmak & Medarić, 2017; Wernesjö, 2015).…”

“…From the perspective of the love mode of recognition, it is vital that unaccompanied children and youth retain strong transnational ties. Many of the unaccompanied children and youth had a strong desire to hold on to recognitive relationships with their families, with the hope of meeting them again one day (Eide et al, 2018; Herz & Lalander, 2017; Lundberg & Dahlquist, 2012; Omland & Andenas, 2018; Wernesjö, 2015) and being able to help the distant families financially (Omland & Andenas, 2018). Eide et al (2018), Lundberg and Dahlquist (2012) and O'Toole Thommessen, Corcoran and Todd (2015) also described how many unaccompanied children and youth greatly feared for and worried about the well‐being of their distant families.…”

“…Eide et al (2018), Lundberg and Dahlquist (2012) and O'Toole Thommessen, Corcoran and Todd (2015) also described how many unaccompanied children and youth greatly feared for and worried about the well‐being of their distant families. As the need to be recognized with love is essential for every person's well‐being, some participants in the studies by Ní Raghallaigh (2011, 2014) and Eide et al (2018) described turning to God as a source of recognition and love when family was far away.…”

“…Legal guardians and staff at their living units became close, yet these relationships remained professional. Some of the children and youth in the studies described how their needs as children, in particular, the need for reciprocal care, love and support, were not recognized by the staff at the living units, the legal guardians, teachers or other officials in their lives (Bjerneld et al, 2018; De Graeve & Bex, 2016, 2017; Deveci, 2012; Eide et al, 2018; Herz, 2019; Herz & Lalander, 2017; Kalverboer et al, 2017; Kaukko & Wernesjö, 2017; Lundberg & Dahlquist, 2012; Oppedal et al, 2017; Pastoor, 2015; Sedmak & Medarić, 2017; Wernesjö, 2015). De Graeve and Bex (2017), Eide et al (2018), Herz and Lalander (2017), Ní Raghallaigh (2014) and Wernesjö (2015) all described the unaccompanied children and youth as possibly perceiving these officials plainly as people ‘doing their job,’ rather than as people who were emotionally involved or with whom a reciprocal trusting relationship could be created.…”