Voices rarely heard: Personal construct assessments of Sub-Saharan unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee youth in England

Abstract

Citation: Thommessen, S., Corcoran, P. and Todd, B. (2017). Voices rarely heard: personal construct assessments of Sub-Saharan unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee youth in England. This is the accepted version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. Permanent repository link:http://openaccess.city.ac.uk/18047/ Link to published version: http://dx.Highlights:  Unaccompanied refugee minors can suffer distress pre-migration, during their journey and after arrival in asylum-countries  Eliciting participants' personal constructs and analysis after intervention indicate where support is valued most  Building new social relationships provides hope by reducing distress, social vulnerability and fear of rejection  Relationships that resemble family bonds and friendship can provide opportunities for trust, optimism and reducing despair  Unaccompanied refugee youth benefit from provision of meaningful activities which reduce feelings of discrimination Unaccompanied refugee minors are particularly vulnerable to stress and risk during the journey to asylum-countries and in the post-migration environment. This study aimed to determine ways in which positive post-migration development and integration could be achieved for this group.Thematic analysis of interviews based on Personal Construct assessments reflected young asylumseeking and refugee individuals' experiences of their social situation in England. Participants emphasised the importance of social support as a means for hope, as an escape from distress and as an opportunity to form relationships that resembled family bonds. They expressed their desire to move forward and to achieve their goals, as well as their fear of rejections and issues related to trust. The participants' voices illustrate areas where gaps remain to be filled in terms of providing sufficient support to unaccompanied minors and youth in England, with implications for future research, policy and practice. The importance of providing unaccompanied children and youth with an opportunity to engage in meaningful activities with peers and adults is demonstrated and the need to provide initiatives that seek to prevent discrimination is highlighted.

How do refugee children experience their new situation in England and Denmark? Implications for educational policy and practice

“…A common theme that was found across the two contexts was the emphasis on social and educational support, encouragement and guidance from teachers and mentors, as well as more general support provided by friends, peers and family members. Offering refugee children, youth and adults the opportunity to create meaningful and close social relationships seems to be of central importance for positive integration and well-being (e.g Berthold, 2000;Goodman, 2004;Hodes et al, 2008;Thommessen, Corcoran & Todd, 2015;Thommessen, Corcoran & Todd, 2017). Previous research suggests that peer groups and social support provided by friends may be a protective factor (Betancourt & Khan, 2008;Masten & Narayan, 2012).…”

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

“…The feeling of belonging as a valuable and active member in a community contributes to the solidarity form of recognition. A wish for recognition as an active member of a community was evident in many studies in this review (Bitzi & Landolt, 2017; Chase, 2013; Eide et al, 2018; Herz, 2019; Herz & Lalander, 2017; Hopkins & Hill, 2010; Kalverboer et al, 2017; Ní Raghallaigh, 2011; O'Toole Thommessen et al, 2017; Pastoor, 2017; Sedmak & Medarić, 2017; Sirriyeh & Ní Raghallaigh, 2018; Wernesjö, 2015). Whereas for some participants of the studies this wish ultimately became a reality, many others experienced misrecognition through the stereotypical and/or racist views of local people, professionals, co‐workers or bosses.…”

“…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). Some were not able to create trusting relationships, even after living in the host country for years (Ní Raghallaigh, 2014), which may add to their feelings of displacement (Wernesjö, 2015) and constrain feelings of self‐confidence.…”

“…Creating a caring community in the temporary and rather extraordinary situations of unaccompanied children and youth may be challenging, but it is possible. Participants in several studies reported experiencing close, family‐like ties in institutional care (Eriksson & Hedberg Rundgren, 2019; Gustafsson et al, 2012; Kaukko & Wernesjö, 2017; Lundberg & Dahlquist, 2012; O'Toole Thommessen et al, 2015; Pastoor, 2017; Wernesjö, 2015) and foster families (Herz, 2019; Kohli et al, 2010; Ní Raghallaigh, 2014; Sirriyeh, 2013; Sirriyeh & Ní Raghallaigh, 2018) and with friends and their families (Bjerneld et al, 2018; Eriksson & Hedberg Rundgren, 2019; O'Toole Thommessen et al, 2017; Pastoor, 2017; Sedmak & Medarić, 2017; Sinha & Uppal, 2009; Wernesjö, 2015), people from non‐governmental organizations and other family‐like guides (De Graeve & Bex, 2016, 2017; Herz & Lalander, 2017). When comparing foster care with institutional care, foster care was found to be a form of housing, where recognitive relationships are more likely to be created (Herz, 2019; Kalverboer et al, 2017; Kohli et al, 2010; Ní Raghallaigh, 2014; Sirriyeh, 2013; Sirriyeh & Ní Raghallaigh, 2018).…”

“…Whereas for some participants of the studies this wish ultimately became a reality, many others experienced misrecognition through the stereotypical and/or racist views of local people, professionals, co‐workers or bosses. Sometimes the systems labelled them as immigrants, refugees or unaccompanied asylum seekers (rather than young human beings), making them feel excluded (Bitzi & Landolt, 2017; Chase, 2010, 2013; De Graeve & Bex, 2017; Deveci, 2012; Herz, 2019; Herz & Lalander, 2017; Kalverboer et al, 2017; Oppedal et al, 2017; O'Toole Thommessen et al, 2017; Sedmak & Medarić, 2017; Wernesjö, 2015).…”