Longitudinal study on the psychosocial wellbeing of unaccompanied refugee minors Ilse Derluyn & Marianne Vervliet Centre for the Social Study of Migration and Refugees Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy Ghent University - Belgium
Unaccompanied refugee minors
Unaccompanied refugee minors A citizen of a state that does not belong to the European Economic Space, who is younger than 18 years old, and who is not accompanied by a person who has parental authority or guardianship over him. Residence Act, Art 61/14, 1
Research question TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES EMOTIONAL WELLBEING
Research question DAILY STRESSORS EMOTIONAL WELLBEING TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES
Research question What patterns of continuity and change occur in unaccompanied refugee minors psychosocial wellbeing during their trajectories in the host country?
Methods 103 unaccompanied refugee minors Follow-up first 18 months in Belgium 3 x questionnaires + interview total group
Research group (n=103) Age on arrival Country of origin 14-15 y 24% 16-17 y 76% Other 23% Guinea 19% Afghanistan 47% Somalia 5% Congo 6%
Questionnaires Questionnaire Socio-demographic questionnaire Hopkins Symptoms Checklist 37A Stressful Life Events Reactions of Adolescents to Traumatic Stress Questionnaire Aspirations Scale for Refugees and Migrants Daily Stressors Scale Thema Socio-demographic data (age, familial background, ) Symptoms of depression, anxiety and externalising behavior Traumatic experiences Symptoms of PTSD Expectations Daily material and social stressors
Traumatic experiences Experienced important changes in family life during last year T 3-18 months T 1 - arrival T 2-6 months (n=62) (n=62) (n=62) n yes (%)* n yes (%)* n yes (%)* 38 (61.3) 38 (61.3) 24 (38.7) Was separated from his family against his/her will 20 (32.3) 26 (41.9) 31 (50.0) Experienced the dead of a loved one 51 (82.3) 50 (80.6) 54 (87.1) Had a life threatening medical problem 24 (38.7) 33 (53.2) 25 (40.3) Experienced a serious accident 22 (35.5) 28 (45.2) 21 (33.9) Experienced a disaster 35 (56.5) 39 (62.9) 30 (48.4) Experienced a war or armed conflict in the home country 49 (79.0) 51 (82.3) 45 (72.6) Was physically mistreated 36 (58.1) 44 (71.0) 41 (66.1) Saw that somebody else was physically mistreated 47 (75.8) 51 (82.3) 45 (72.6) Experienced sexual abuse 12 (19.8) 14 (22.6) 9 (14.5) Experienced a stressful life event 'I'm in danger' 53 (85.5) 51 (82.3) 56 (90.3) Experienced a stressful life event 'someone else is in danger' 42 (67.7) 44 (71.0) 45 (72.6) Other stressful life event 37 (59.7) 36 (58.1) 30 (48.4) Total mean (SD) 7.52 (2.13) 8.15 (2.51) 7.35 (2.40)
Daily social stressors Daily stressor % YES arrival (n= 54) % YES 6 months (n= 54) % YES 18 months (n= 54) Social Difficulties in relationship with adults 16.7 29.6 18.5 Difficulties in relationship with youngsters 18.5 22.2 24.1 Difficulties in making friends 42.6 48.1 44.4 Discrimination Hear people say bad things about myself Feeling of being threatened differently 11.1 18.5 20.4 11.1 24.1 42.6 Feeling that others have prejudices 16.7 31.5 37.0
Daily material stressors Daily stressor % YES arrival (n= 54) % YES 6 months (n= 54) % YES 18 months (n= 54) Material Insufficient medical care 16.7 42.6 35.2 Insufficient housing 16.7 44.4 37.0 Insufficient food/clothing 48.1 57.4 51.9 Insufficient money 44.4 55.6 50.0
Other daily stressors Andere Daily stressor % YES arrival (n= 54) % YES 6 months (n= 54) % YES 18 months (n= 54) Feelings of unsafety 24.1 20.4 29.6 No satisfaction with how freetime is filled in 25.9 46.3 50.0 Feeling uncertain about the future 50.0 51.9 59.3 Other difficulties in the family (non-relational) 40.7 55.6 50.0 Difficulties in obtaining legal residence documents 55.6 63.0 55.6 Other difficulty 24.1 24.1 40.7
Anxiety, depression and PTSD 60,0% 50,0% 40,0% 30,0% 20,0% 10,0% % participants with severe score at arrival, after 6 months, after 18 months 25,7% 33,0% 48,0% 30,4% 32,5% 55,1% 35,1% 36,0% 53,2% anxiety depression PTSD 0,0%
Anxiety, depression and PTSD The more traumatic experiences, the more symptoms of anxietyand PTSD traumatic experiences depression anxiety PTSD
Anxiety, depression and PTSD The more traumatic experiences, the more symptoms of anxietyand PTSD traumatic experiences depression anxiety daily stressors The more experienced daily stressors, the more symptoms of anxiety, depression and PTSD PTSD
I have endured worse things in my life which are completely not comparable with this situation [non-recognition as a refugee], step by step it will become better, it will be alright, step by step. (Habib, 12 months in Belgium) A lot has changed since I came here. I went to school, learned the language, a new one. I do these things. I want to live in Belgium but they don t allow me. But I won t give up, I want to build up my life. To live like Jalil, independently, with my own house and my own family. But I am caught in a hole, aren t I? (Shuhjah, 18 months in Belgium) AGENCY & STRENGTHS Vervliet et et al., al., 2014 When I came to Belgium, I didn t think much about myself. But now, I feel I have changed to achieve something in my life. [ ] I received opportunities and learned Dutch. Now, I also want to learn French to be able to progress more. [ ] I also managed to go to the [sports]club. Now, I wait for the decision and I think everything will gradually become better and better. (Jalil, 9 months in Belgium)
Implications for policy Human rights & pedagogical perspective Reality: Pedagogical paradox
Implications for policy Human rights & pedagogical perspective agentic government guarantees Reality: Pedagogical paradox 1. participation 2. psychosocial wellbeing
Implications for research(ers) Human rights & pedagogical perspective Agentic research(ers) Reality: Pedagogical paradox (ethics, dissemination, psychosocial wellbeing/strengths, selfcare, advocay, action if needed)
Ilse Derluyn CESSMIR Universiteit Gent H. Dunantlaan 2 9000 Gent Ilse.derluyn@ugent.be