Coping and resilience in refugees from the Sudan: a narrative account.
Author: Schweitzer R, Greenslade J, Kagee A.
Source:
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 41(3), 282-288.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper was to identify and explicate coping and
resilience themes employed by 13 re-settled Sudanese refugees. METHOD: A sample
of 13 Sudanese refugees was asked to describe their experience of coping in the
three periods of their migration, namely: pre migration from Sudan, transit, and
post migration in their host country. Members of the sample participated in
qualitative interviews conducted with the assistance a bilingual community
worker. RESULTS: Three themes that characterized the experience of re-settled
refugees across all periods were: religious beliefs, social support and personal
qualities. A fourth less salient, theme, comparison with others, also emerged in
the post-migration context. CONCLUSIONS: A number of themes associated with
coping and resilience in response to trauma were identified. These themes may be
translated into strategies to assist in responding constructively to traumSuch
approaches may be used to improve the well-being of re-settled refugees in
Australia.