Family resiliency during resettlement: A comparative study of two Syrian families resettled in an Arctic nation

• Published in: Journal of Family Social Work
• Main Author: Dubus, Nicole
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: SJSU ScholarWorks 2018
• Subjects: family; forced migration; refugee; resilience; resettlement; social work; syria; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Arctic
• Online Access: https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/faculty_rsca/4228; https://doi.org/10.1080/10522158.2017.1410269; https://works.bepress.com/nicole_dubus/37/download/

The experiences of two refugee families from Syria, both of whom resettled at the same time in an arctic city, are compared to better understand the stressors and challenges that impede resettlement as well as the resilient factors that ease it. Qualitative data was obtained through interviews with the family members (n = 16) and the workers (n = 3) who facilitated their resettlement. Although each family received the same services and aid upon arrival, the families’ abilities to integrate and function varied. Possible factors are discussed. This has implications for agencies that serve refugees and hope to enhance the resilience of the resettling families.