Refugee Identified Stressors and Protective Factors Impacting Resettlement Success

Background and Purpose:  There is ample research suggesting that the older refugees are when they resettle, the worse their long-term outcomes are (Porter & Haslam, 2005). Recent research suggests that pre-displacement and post-displacement stressors impact resettlement success in different ways and some scholars have suggested that on-going resettlement stressors may negatively impact long-term health and mental health outcomes (Miller & Rassmussen, 2010, Schweitzer et al, 2012). The objectives of this research are: 1) to explore the resettlement stressors that newly arriving refugees identify as impacting their overall health, mental health and long-term resettlement success in the United States, and 2) examine refugees’ perspectives on what helps people do better in resettlement.   

Methods:Ethnocultural methodology informed thirteen focus groups conducted with 111 total participants between 2009 and 2011. The sample included three focus groups with 34 Bhutanese, three focus groups with 23 Karen, four focus groups with 27 Oromo, and four focus groups of 27 Somali refugees. Refugees responded to questions about how they recognize people who are doing well and those who are not doing well in resettlement as well as what helps people do better. Focus groups were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using thematic categorization informed by Spradley’s Developmental Research Sequence (Spradley, 1979). To enhance trustworthiness of the data credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability were systematically tracked (Lincoln & Guba, 1985). Cultural leaders were involved in all stages of the research and also interviewed for their understanding of the findings. Their recommended changes and adaptations were added to the findings.

Results: Reported findings focus on the domains labeled “resettlement stressors” and ‘people who do better.”  First, the results describe common resettlement stressors across all four refugee groups and second, refugees’ perspectives on what helps people do better. There were six categories of resettlement findings in common across all focus groups: (a) past trauma and ongoing stress back home, (b) economic stress, (c) lack of safety in the U.S., (d) language and literacy difficulties, (e) challenges faced by refugee youth, and (f) life is easier in the U.S. In addition to these common categories, Somali and Oromo refugees identified changing family roles as a significant resettlement stressor.  Older refugees were more likely to report past trauma and ongoing stress back home as impacting their long-term resettlement success in the United States. Refugees commonly identified several categories describing refugees who do better in resettlement:  (a) educated, (b) employed, and (c) engaged with family, community, or advocacy. 

Implications: Although refugees identify numerous sources of stress in the United States that have an impact on long-term adjustment and the success of their resettlement, they also understand what helps people to be successful in coping with these challenges.  Unfortunately, the older refugees are, the less likely they are to become educated, employed and to remain engaged in their families and communities. This research suggests useful strategies for developing culturally derived interventions aimed at improving the resettlement success and engagement of refugees across the lifespan, and in particular, the quality of life for aging refugees.