Former unaccompanied minors and the transition to adulthood: A voice-centred relational approach
Luke Macaulay, Tampere University
This paper presents an overview of a current research project working with former unaccompanied minor youth in Finland regarding their experiences of becoming adults. Utilising a qualitative single-site case design underpinned by a voice-centred relational methodology approach, there are two research objectives of this study. Research Objective 1 (RO1) is to better understand the transition to adulthood of former unaccompanied minor youth in Finland. The participants of this study sought asylum as unaccompanied minors but are now young adults – as such, are now technically former unaccompanied minors. RO1 addresses the following research questions: ‘How do former unaccompanied minor youth in Finland conceptualise the transition to adulthood?’; ‘What do former unaccompanied minor youth in Finland identify as barriers and supports to the transition to adulthood?’ Research Objective 2 (RO2) is to innovate new ways of co-constructing knowledge and art with participants, addressing the following research question: ‘How does the collaborative creation of knowledge through a participatory arts-based method amplify the voices of former unaccompanied minor youth in Finland?’ In this paper, I will give an overview of the project – including the overall rationale for the study. A further focus of this paper is to highlight the voice-centred relational methodology approach of the study and how/why an arts-based approach, using poetry and visual art, will be utilised. Anticipated methodological learnings will be presented in order to engage the audience in discussion and critique, with the aim to foster collegial dialogue about this study’s methodological approach.
“If they are feeling fine, I feel fine”. The role of transnational family relationships for young refugee women striving towards wellbeing
Marja Tiilikainen and Marte Knag Fylkesnes
In this paper we explore the role of transnational family in the lives of young women who once arrived as unaccompanied minor refugees to Finland and Norway. What kinds of challenges or resources do transnational family relationships provide to their wellbeing? How do young women negotiate between, on one hand, their new life conditions and, on the other hand, gendered expectations from the side of the family?
As part of the Drawing Together project we engaged with 16 young women over a period of three years. Methods comprised art-based workshops, eco-mapping of social networks and interviews. Across data, transnational family was ascribed a central role in participants’ accounts of wellbeing/ill-being. Participants often maintained strong emotional ties with family over time and space, and opportunity to support family members fostered a sense of agency. However, sustaining intimate relationships across borders could also be a source of stress, due to physical distance, harsh living conditions of the family, and restrictive family reunification schemes. Young women growing up in the North utilized new opportunities available for them, but also negotiated contrasting expectations.
The in-depth analysis shows how family roles and expectations are negotiated and evolve over time, as young women strive towards wellbeing for both themselves and their kin. The analysis includes also relationships with siblings and missing/deceased family members, which are less frequently discussed in the literature. One important implication is the urgency to understand better gender-specific experiences and needs of unaccompanied minor refugees living in transnational family situations.
Identifying Central Aspects of Well-being Among Individuals in Situations of Forced Migration in Finland
Areen Nassar, University of Jyväskylä
This paper explores the aspects of well-being among individuals in situations of forced migration in Finland. Using the Capability Approach as both a theoretical and analytical framework, this study investigates the central capabilities of forced migrants for achieving well-being within Finnish society. Qualitative data were collected from 43 forced migrants participating in eight group discussions. Thematic data analysis was employed to identify key passages within their collected narratives. Findings highlight legal security, economic participation, and social relatedness as central aspects of well-being in the Finnish context. Legal security not only grants entitlements to a variety of public services but also facilitates access to diverse opportunities and puts an end to chronic uncertainties. Meanwhile, economic participation ensures the enhancement of forced migrants’ social esteem, personal autonomy, and self-esteem, while social relatedness promotes their psychological well-being and human and social capital. Acknowledging the contextual nuances and temporal dynamics inherent in forced migration experiences, these findings serve as a foundational framework for future inquiries into the realisation of well-being aspects among forced migrants within Finnish society. Furthermore, they offer insights that can inform policies and services tailored to the diverse needs of this population.
Narratives of everyday life experiences of Unaccompanied Refugee Minors in Norway
Gunika Rishi, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Unaccompanied minor minors (URM) are a particularly vulnerable group when it comes to psychosocial health and integration. URMs experience displacement due to social, psychological, political, economic and environmental stressors. These factors govern their trajectory from departure, through border crossings, to their entire stay in a foreign country. Even after reaching their destination, URMs often face persistent challenges as they adapt to a new society and daily stressors during the settlement process. These can include difficulties related to complex legal immigration processes, access to education or integration, separation from family, social, cultural and linguistic differences, racial discrimination, bullying, experience of homelessness and frequent relocation (Tørrisplass, 2022a). The paradox persists where care and support for URM is often based on their demographic characteristics such as age, gender and nationality, rather than being tailored to their individual needs. This persistent situation perpetuates structural inequalities by mainly categorizing URMs as “refugees” rather than recognizing and addressing their specific needs as children. In line with this focus, my study seeks to make a meaningful contribution by empirically investigating how URMs experiences and narrate their everyday experiences within a changing and uncertain system of migration and citizenship. Building on the exploratory and narrative nature of my study, the paper will focus on how URMs build relationships, navigate new systems, imagine the future, understand their past, and in what ways they show resilience and vulnerability through their experiences. This paper presentation would be based on empirical research done in three municipalities in Norway. I will use narrative interviews to bring out URMs stories about family, home and belonging, to address the following questions: What notions of family and home do these stories produce? What changes do these stories talk about, in terms of family relationships, belonging and the practice of creating a home before and after moving to Norway, and before and after family reunification?
Understanding Relationship Between Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction Among young Afghan Immigrants in Pakistan
Qaiser Abbas, The University of Punjab, Lahore Pakistan
This study explores the relationship between psychological well-being and life satisfaction among young Afghan immigrants in Pakistan, addressing a significant gap in the existing literature. While similar constructs have been studied in various immigrant populations, there has been limited focus specifically on young Afghan immigrants in Pakistan.
The research draws on a sample of 15 Afghan immigrants between the ages of 18-35 residing in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Punjab provinces, consisting of 10 men and 5 women. Utilizing the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Affect Balance Scale, the study measures both psychological well-being and life satisfaction. The primary objective is to identify critical factors influencing the psychological well-being of young Afghan immigrants in Pakistan.
By examining the interaction between these variables, the study aims to inform the development of targeted interventions that can enhance the psychological well-being and resilience of young Afghan immigrants. This research contributes to the broader field of immigrant mental health, highlighting the need for effective support systems to aid the adjustment and well-being of immigrant populations in host countries.
