Masteroppgave psykisk helsearbeid- Universitetet i Agder, 2015The purpose of this investigation has been to explore the difficulties and challenges refugees
living through in their attempts to adapt to Norwegian society. What causes stress in the new
daily life, how does it affect them, and how do they handled it?
This is a qualitative investigation, based on data from interviews done with three-year
intervals, with four refugees, allowing to find out whether changes are caused by structural
conditions, or due do to the individual's inner resources, or both?
The theoretical framework is sourced from stress- and coping theory. A hermeneutic
phenomenological method, and the findings are analyzed through Malteruds modified edition
of Girogis phenomenological analysis.
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Central Categories were identified as; Network, Health, Work and relaxation / faith. These
lifeaspects was of highly importance, and gave the possibility to study how they manage and
how they cope. Faith represents neither difficulties or challenges, but is a coping strategy, and
will therefore be discussed as that.
A number of conditions in the three areas were bothersome, interwoven and influenced each
other. The results also showed the lifespan-process for the individual, and how coping
strategies changed during a three-year time period.
Key words: Adaption, marginalization, health, stress, coping, network
