Stress and Coping Among Refugee Parents: Perspectives from Service Providers

Background: More than half of the world’s almost 20 million refugees are resettled in the United States; one in two are under the age of 25. Half of recently arrived refugee youth live in poverty and as many as one in four refugee youth are at risk for poor social and/or behavioral outcomes, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, conduct disorder, and emotional difficulties (Fazel & Stein, 2003; Hooper, Zong, Capps, & Fix, 2016). Educational outcomes for refugee youth are routinely compromised by these challenges, and by the loneliness and discrimination youth face in resettlement (Brown, 2015). Despite the many disparities in emotional, behavioral, and educational outcomes experienced by refugee youth can be, to a large degree, mitigated by how parents care for and promote resilience within their families. Community organizations offer critical support to help refugee families heal and adapt; yet, little is known about how service providers understand and build on the strengths and needs of refugee parents. 

This research explores service providers’ perspectives on stressors that refugee parents encounter, the mental health ramifications of parenting under such duress, and the resources and strategies refugee parents use to support their children’s wellbeing.

Methods: This research is part of a collaborative project between faculty researchers and the primary refugee service provider in the Philadelphia area. All procedures were IRB approved. Twelve interviews and two focus groups were done with refugee service providers. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis (Hsieh & Shannon, 2005).

Results: According to service providers, the refugee experience creates multiple stressors for parents, including isolation; recovery from trauma; cultural adjustment; and shifting family dynamics. Service providers noted effects on parents’ availability, responsibilities, supervision, and disciplinary tactics. Providers identified multiple ways that refugee parents promote children’s well-being, including balancing financial concerns with care-taking; thinking positively; connecting with community and religious resources; and attempting to protect children’s innocence insofar as possible.

Conclusions: Findings add a critical focus on challenges and strengths within refugee families, and highlight potential foci for training and support to help professionals appropriately serve refugee families.