Citation

Utržan DS, Wieling EA. Fam. Process 2018; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Family Process Institute, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/famp.12408

PMID

30414325

Abstract

Violence in Syria has displaced an unprecedented number of people from their homes. While couple/family therapy (C/MFT) scholars have explored migration experiences, particularly among refugees, there is still limited research using a bioecological framework. This exploratory study examined the experiences of Syrian asylum-seekers and refugees living in the United States using a qualitative phenomenological approach. Twelve Syrians (n = 8 men, n = 4 women) between 20 and 52 years of age (M = 35.8, SD = 10.7) were interviewed about their experiences across three stages of resettlement: (1) pre-resettlement, (2) resettlement/migration, and (3) post-resettlement.

FINDINGS suggest that the effects of conflict-induced displacement and resettlement permeate across multiple ecologies. These range from the individual and his or her interpersonal relationships to their larger community and society. C/MFTs should account for contextual factors while becoming familiar with the sociopolitical impact of displacement and resettlement in their clinical work with this population.

© 2018 Family Process Institute.

Language: en

Keywords

Asylum; Programa de Reasentamiento de Refugiados de Estados Unidos; Refugee crisis; Resettlement experiences; Syrian refugees; United States Refugee Resettlement Program; asilo; crisis de refugiados; experiencias de reasentamiento; refugiados sirios; 叙利亚难民; 安置经历; 庇护; 美国难民安置项目; 难民危机