Refugee students' psychological wellbeing and experiences in the Australian education system: a mixed-methods investigation

Accepted for publication 28 May 2017Objectives: Refugee children and adolescents are widely acknowledged to experience multiple disadvantages that place them at increased risk of poor education and employment outcomes, which in turn affect their mental health and well-being. The aim of this study is to explore the interconnection between their educational and schooling experiences, and mental health outcomes. Method: We used a mixed methods approach. Participants included a multiethnic sample of 495 South Australian refugee children (4–12 years) and adolescents (13–17 years) from Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and former Yugoslavia. Mental health outcomes were assessed using the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Thirteen focus groups with 85 refugee adolescents aged 13–17 years explored their educational experiences and well-being. Results: Quantitative analysis revealed differences between teacher, parent, and adolescent self-ratings, with teachers identifying a higher proportion of refugee students with mental health problems than parents or adolescents. The focus groups identified inadequate educational support, parental pressure to excel, heavy family and household responsibilities, supporting psychologically distressed parents, and school based discrimination and racism as barriers to their educational progress. Qualitative results also afforded plausible explanations for the discrepancy between teacher-ratings with parent- and adolescent self-ratings of the mental health. Conclusion: Analysis of both quantitative and qualitative findings provides insight into the interconnection between educational and schooling experiences of young refugees and their mental health. Avenues for further research include developing and evaluating more holistic models of education to address the interrelated education and mental health needs of refugee youth.Tahereh Ziaian, Helena de Anstiss, Teresa Puvimanasinghe, and Emily Mille

Emotional and behavioural problems among refugee children and adolescents living in South Australia

While there is a growing body of literature on the mental health status of adult refugees, children have been relatively neglected in research, particularly in Australia. This study investigated the prevalence of emotional and behavioural problems and patterns of service utilisation among 530 refugee children and adolescents aged 4–17 years living in South Australia. Parents and teachers of children aged 4–17 years and adolescents aged 13–17 years completed the appropriate versions of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Of the 11.0% of children and adolescents found to have borderline or abnormal emotional and behavioural problems, only 13.0% accessed professional help. The study has practical implications for policy and practice.Tahereh Ziaian, Helena de Anstiss, Georgia Antoniou, Peter Baghurst, and Michael Sawye

Depressive symptomatology and service utilisation among refugee children and adolescents living in South Australia

Background:  Young refugees resettled in Western countries are at increased risk of mental health problems. However, most research has centred on post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with depression, other mental health disorders, and problems receiving comparatively less attention. Method:  Depressive symptomatology was assessed using the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) in a multiethnic community sample of 348 refugee children (n = 180) and adolescents (n = 168) aged 7–17 years living in South Australia. Results:  According to parent reports, 7.1% of children and adolescents had depressive symptomatology for which services were available and yet only 21.5% of these accessed services. Conclusions:  Young refugees need improved access to culturally appropriate mental health care.Tahereh Ziaian, Helena de Anstiss, Georgia Antoniou, Michael Sawyer, Peter Baghurs

Identity and belonging: refugee youth and their parents’ perception of being Australian

People from refugee backgrounds can experience identity issues living between two cultures. Identity development for adolescents and youth, is further complicated by simultaneously having to navigate between childhood and adulthood, and expectations of parents, ethnic community, and host society. Objective: This study with refugee-background youth and adults, explored participants’ perceptions of being Australian and their sense of belonging, after migrating to Australia. Method: Study sample included a multiethnic sample of 79 participants: 46 refugee background youth, 15-26 years and 33 parents or significant family members residing in South Australia. Participants had migrated to Australia from the Middle East, South Asia, or Africa, between 1 and 15 years ago. We used a semi-structured interview protocol and data-based thematic analysis to collect and analyse individual interviews. Results: We identified the themes of acceptance, ambivalence, confusion, and rejection of an Australian identity in both youth and parent interviews, although youth interviews were more eloquent and nuanced. While most participants accepted an Australian identity and considered Australia their “home” for reasons of safety, opportunities and support available to them, others opted for a dual identity combining elements from Australia and heritage country. A few participants rejected an Australian identity but still considered Australia “home”.Tahereh Ziaian, Teresa Puvimanasinghe, Emily Miller, Helena De Anstiss, Adrian Esterman and Maureen Dollar

Challenges, facilitators and enablers of conducting research with youth from refugee backgrounds

Methodological and ethical challenges encountered when conducting research with refugee populations can pertain to gaining access to the population concerned, dispelling confusion about the research process, fostering trust among participants and their communities, addressing language and cultural barriers, and managing tensions in academic-industry partnerships. This article describes the challenges, facilitators and enablers we encountered when planning and designing a research project to investigate education and employment outcomes among newly arrived young people from refugee backgrounds. Notwithstanding careful planning, we encountered a number of challenges that could only be effectively managed by developing strong relationships with Industry Partners, Bilingual Youth Workers, and research participants. Our experiences may be useful to cross-cultural and other researchers seeking to undertake cross-cultural research.Tahereh Ziaian, Teresa Puvimanasinghe, Emily Miller, Helena de Anstiss, Maureen Dollard, Adrian Esterman, Helen Barrie, Ali Afsharia

Refugees at work: The preventative role of psychosocial safety climate against workplace harassment, discrimination and psychological distress

Published: 12 October 2021It is widely recognised that employment is vital in assisting young refugees’ integration into a new society. Drawing on psychosocial safety climate (PSC) theory, this research investigated the effect of organisational climate on young refugee workers’ mental health (psychological distress) through stressful social relational aspects of work (e.g., harassment, discrimination). Drawing on data from 635 young refugees aged between 15 and 26 in South Australia, 116 refugees with paid work were compared with 519 refugee students without work, and a sample of young workers from Australian Workplace Barometer (AWB) data (n = 290). The results indicated that refugees with paid work had significantly lower psychological distress compared with refugees with no paid work, but more distress than other young Australian workers. With respect to workplace harassment and abuse, young refugee workers reported significantly more harassment due to their ongoing interaction and engagement with mainstream Australian workers compared with unemployed refugees. Harassment played a vital role in affecting psychological health in refugees (particularly) and other young workers. While refugee youth experienced harassment at work, overall, their experiences suggest that their younger age upon arrival enabled them to seek and find positive employment outcomes. Although PSC did not differ significantly between the employed groups, we found that it likely negatively influenced psychological distress through the mediating effects of harassment and abuse. Hence, fostering pathways to successful employment and creating safe work based on high PSC and less harassment are strongly recommended to improve refugees’ mental health and adaptation.Ali Afsharian, Maureen Dollard, Emily Miller, Teresa Puvimanasinghe, Adrian Esterman, Helena De Anstiss and Tahereh Ziaia

Family influence on refugee youth education and employment aspirations and choices

Published online: 03 Feb 2021 OnlinePublDuring cultural transition, refugee-background youth in Australia must navigate adolescence and the demands of cultural transition and adaptation, including educational and employment decisions. Using a qualitative methodology we report on a study exploring the influence of family – including parents, siblings and extended family members – on youth aspirations and decisionmaking regarding education and employment pathways. Based on interviews with 79 participants (46 refugee-background youth aged 15–26 years and 33 parents or caregivers) residing in regional and metropolitan South Australia, we find that although there were some tensions between youth and family expectations, motivations, identities, and acculturation in resettlement, there were also mutual support strategies that strengthened family relationships and supported youth aspirations. We note four key themes: ‘motivating and supporting’ or how families supported youth to select their future education and employment pathways; ‘Independence versus influence’ or to what extent families influenced youth decisionmaking; ‘clash of expectations’ between parents and youth expectations; and ‘family responsibilities’ that interfered with youth aspirations. Implications of study findings for future research, policy, and practice are discussed.Tahereh Ziaian, Teresa Puvimanasinghe, Emily Miller, Helena de Anstiss, Adrian Esterman, Maureen Dollard and Ali Afsharia