Lessons learned from conducting a study of emotions and positive personality change in Syrian origin young adults who have recently resettled in the Netherlands

Post-traumatic growth is a compelling idea, yet extant research has often employed retrospective reports of change, rather than examining change over time. Research on samples of people that are traditionally seen as hard-to-reach are rare within personality psychology. In Karakter, we assessed a sample of Syrian origin young adults who recently resettled in the Netherlands (initial N = 168) four times over a 13-month period to examine experiences of adversity, emotions, and positive personality change. Here, we provide a detailed narrative of the research process, beginning with a description of how we incorporated open science practices in Karakter. We then turn to a discussion of the changes, challenges, and opportunities we encountered in the research. In doing so, we discuss conceptual and methodological considerations when examining personality change. We close with suggestions for researchers who are interested in conducting similar studies with populations that are underrecruited in the futur

Crossing borders: Trauma and resilience in young refugees : a multi-method study

Many adolescent refugees and asylum seekers have experienced traumatic events. They often suffer from intrusions of these events, and report avoidance behaviors, sleeping problems and hyperarousal. On top of that, they are dealing with many daily stressors caused by their new and marginal social position in the Netherlands. How do these adolescents keep up in the Dutch society? A long waiting time for a resident permit and uncertainty about the future have a negative influence on their quality of life. However, it is a misinterpretation to qualify these adolescents as passive victims. They also show remarkably high levels of (individual) resilience and even personal growth. Young refugees display, for example, positive changes in interpersonal relationships and self perception. They describe high feelings of responsibility and they are actively engaged with performing at school and participating in the new society to move on and live a meaningful life in the host country. In this dissertation, we investigated the construct of resilience in adolescent refugees and asylum seekers in the Netherlands. We integrated data from qualitative evidence, questionnaires and DNA analyses. The results demonstrate that these individual adolescents and their social context are very much interrelated. Consequently, resilience in young refugees is influenced by different variables on numerous levels (e.g., individual, family, community). Furthermore, the results showed that not all groups benefit similarly from the same (protective) factors. In the last chapter of this dissertation, we critically review the usefulness of the concept 'resilience' in research and in practical work with young refugees and asylum seekers

Crossing borders: Trauma and resilience in young refugees : a multi-method study

Many adolescent refugees and asylum seekers have experienced traumatic events. They often suffer from intrusions of these events, and report avoidance behaviors, sleeping problems and hyperarousal. On top of that, they are dealing with many daily stressors caused by their new and marginal social position in the Netherlands. How do these adolescents keep up in the Dutch society? A long waiting time for a resident permit and uncertainty about the future have a negative influence on their quality of life. However, it is a misinterpretation to qualify these adolescents as passive victims. They also show remarkably high levels of (individual) resilience and even personal growth. Young refugees display, for example, positive changes in interpersonal relationships and self perception. They describe high feelings of responsibility and they are actively engaged with performing at school and participating in the new society to move on and live a meaningful life in the host country. In this dissertation, we investigated the construct of resilience in adolescent refugees and asylum seekers in the Netherlands. We integrated data from qualitative evidence, questionnaires and DNA analyses. The results demonstrate that these individual adolescents and their social context are very much interrelated. Consequently, resilience in young refugees is influenced by different variables on numerous levels (e.g., individual, family, community). Furthermore, the results showed that not all groups benefit similarly from the same (protective) factors. In the last chapter of this dissertation, we critically review the usefulness of the concept 'resilience' in research and in practical work with young refugees and asylum seekers

War, Persecution, and Dual Transition : A Developmental Perspective of Care for Refugee Adolescents in Host Countries

Most refugee adolescents arrive in Western industrialized countries with at least one caregiver, who is usually a parent. A growing number, however, apply for asylum as an unaccompanied minor. What are the consequences of these social changes due to flight, migration, and resettlement on the opportunities for development and well-being? In this chapter, we elaborate on backgrounds related to developmental stages, interrelationships, traumatic exposure, migration and acculturation experiences, and mental health consequences. We emphasize resilience and describe factors that contribute to it. Current prevention and intervention methods will be discussed as well

Lives on hold : A qualitative study of young refugees' resilience strategies

Although the literature on positive adjustment following traumatic events is growing, only a few studies have examined this phenomenon in young refugees. Using the social-ecological framework, the aim of this study was to identify factors and processes that according to young refugees promote their resilience. A total of 16 treatment-seeking refugees aged 13–21 years, living in the Netherlands, were interviewed. Data analysis revealed four resilience strategies: (1) acting autonomously, (2) performing at school, (3) perceiving support from peers and parents, and (4) participating in the new society. These strategies interacted with one another and demonstrated the interrelatedness between individuals and their social context. Having to wait long for a residence permit and being older appeared to negatively influence participants’ resilience strategies. These findings suggest that resilience refers to a dynamic process that is context and time specific

Resilience in refugee and Dutch adolescents : Genetic variability in the corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 1

Relationships between the corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1) [rs878886] and serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR), with resilience and satisfaction with life were examined in 172 adolescents; 70 refugee adolescents living in the Netherlands and 102 non-refugee (Dutch) adolescents. Genetic variation in the CRHR1 was related with self-reported resilience and satisfaction with life, while the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism was not. These findings did not depend on being a refugee or a non-refugee (Dutch) adolescent and did hold after accounting for age, number of exposures to potentially traumatic events and gender. This implies that adolescents who are G-allele carriers of CRHR1 (rs878886) might be more susceptible to mental health problems following trauma, further suggesting innate differences in CRHR1 as a factor in resilience

Lives on hold : A qualitative study of young refugees' resilience strategies

Although the literature on positive adjustment following traumatic events is growing, only a few studies have examined this phenomenon in young refugees. Using the social-ecological framework, the aim of this study was to identify factors and processes that according to young refugees promote their resilience. A total of 16 treatment-seeking refugees aged 13–21 years, living in the Netherlands, were interviewed. Data analysis revealed four resilience strategies: (1) acting autonomously, (2) performing at school, (3) perceiving support from peers and parents, and (4) participating in the new society. These strategies interacted with one another and demonstrated the interrelatedness between individuals and their social context. Having to wait long for a residence permit and being older appeared to negatively influence participants’ resilience strategies. These findings suggest that resilience refers to a dynamic process that is context and time specific

Cultuursensitief werken met alleenstaande jonge vluchtelingen

Alleenstaande minderjarige vreemdelingen (AMV’s) lopen een verhoogd risico op het ontwikkelen van psychische problematiek. Over de beste benadering van deze problematiek is nog veel onduidelijk. Aan de hand van een casus bespreken we hoe we cultuursensitief kunnen werken met een AMV die last heeft van traumagerelateerde klachten