It is well documented that many unaccompanied refugee and asylum seeking minors (URMs) have experienced a wide range of adverse events and struggle with mental health problems (El Baba & Colucci, 2018). At the same time, many URMs also show strength, resilience and an outstanding commitment to succeed in their host countries (Eide & Hjern, 2013; Kohli, 2007; Ní Raghallaigh & Gilligan, 2010). Knowledge about how the youth themselves understand and experience challenges and possibilities during resettlement is essential for professionals and relevant services to facilitate these youths’ resettlement and positive developmental pathways. However, knowledge about the specific situation and experiences of young URMs is scarce. Therefore, the overarching object of this thesis is to gain increased knowledge of young URMs’ subjective experiences during resettlement and their developmental pathways over time, with the aim of comprehending their unique situation. Data used in this thesis originated from a longitudinal study of URMs arriving in Norway before the age of 15. The sample consisted of 48 youths. Qualitative and quantitative data from three different time points (collected approximately 6 months, 2.5 years, and 5 years after arrival) were used in one or several of the analyses included in this thesis.
The first paper aimed to gain increased knowledge about how young URMs understand their development during resettlement, as well as what they emphasise as important in this process. Guided by interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), interview transcripts from 48 URMs recorded five years after their arrival were analysed using turning points as a sensitising concept. In the analysis, gaining a sense of security, feeling affiliated, being loved and cared for, and becoming independent evolved as important turning points during resettlement. These turning points reflect basic developmental needs important for all youth. For the youths in this study, experiencing one of these turning points made space for mental capacity, allowing for engagement in developmental activities, thereby leading to new pathways. However, the analytic results also indicated that struggling with fulfilling these basic needs interfered with the youths’ capacity to engage in current and future tasks, affecting their well-being and making integration difficult.
The next paper aimed to gain an increased understanding of young URMs acculturation processes by exploring how the youths understand and navigate within their host country society and culture. First, interview transcripts with 48 youths at two different time points (2.5 and 5 years after arrival) were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis (TA). This analysis, exploring how the youths themselves understood Norwegian society and culture, resulted in the following four themes: children’s rights, political principles, family relations and development, and attitudes. Several subthemes were included in each theme. Next, how the youths navigated within the cultural and societal landscape during their first five years was explored through analysing interview transcripts from the same youths using IPA. Three themes – succeeding by understanding and adapting, the importance of contributing, and balancing between expectations – evolved in this analysis. Gaining cultural competence, adapting, and finding ways to contribute facilitated integration, goal achievement and an enhanced sense of agency. In addition, the youths’ experiences with navigating conflicting expectations originating in their original and host country cultures were also evident, and some youths experienced being required to adapt more than feeling comfortable with. Together, these two analyses indicate how the youths’ acculturation processes result from their own wishes, needs and behaviours in addition to specific cultural features. Furthermore, how the youths navigate within a specific cultural and societal framework is important knowledge to identify cross-cultural challenges and promoting positive developmental pathways.
The third paper aimed to obtain more knowledge regarding young URMs aspirations and whether mental health struggles create a barrier for achieving these aspirations. Mental health struggles (data on which were gathered 6 months and 2.5 years after arrival) did not seem to be a barrier for the youth achieving their aspirations (data on which were gathered 5 years after arrival) according to binary logistic analysis. Qualitative data (collected 5 years after arrival) were analysed using TA. These results indicate how the youths worked hard to achieve their aspirations, how their aspirations were dynamic and changed according to what was desirable and possible to achieve, and how their aspirations were by the youth organised hierarchically in line with their needs. The need to truly feel safe, both physically and emotionally, was found to be a critical driving force behind the youth’s specific aspirations. Accordingly, it is important that services facilitate more stability for these youth to enhance a sense of safety. Providing help and support might increase the youths’ potential to achieve their aspirations and contribute to a feeling of togetherness and connection to others. Finally, it is important to acknowledge the youths’ own strengths and capacities when helping them advance with their lives.