TY - JOUR
T1 - To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield
T2 - Narratives on the road to asylum
AU - Hocking, Debbie C.
N1 - Funding Information:
The author would like to thank the asylum seekers and refugees who participated in this research and shared their experiences of seeking asylum. The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was made possible with the financial support of EastWeb (a sub-fund of the Australian Communities Foundation), the Nordia Foundation, and the Sidney Myer Fund and Myer Foundation.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2020.
PY - 2021/4
Y1 - 2021/4
N2 - This study aimed to explore the ecological influences on subjective well-being identified by current and former community-dwelling asylum seekers engaged in the process of Refugee Status Determination in Australia. This article presents the qualitative component of a prospective mixed-methods study of 131 asylum seekers and refugees (T1, N = 131; T2, N = 56). The Framework Analysis method was employed to qualitatively analyse the narrative data derived from 187 semi-structured interviews documenting pre-, peri-, and post-migration experiences, and the impact of Australia’s asylum policies and procedures. Four overarching themes comprising 15 sub-themes emerged: The Refugee Status Determination process (Waiting; Uncertainty; Worry); Psychosocial factors (Un/employment & gainful activity; Medicare; Accommodation; Family separation & loneliness; Loss); Health and well-being (Mental health; Physical health & somatic issues; Hopelessness; Helplessness); and Protective factors (Hope; Support & social connectivity; Religion). The complex interface between the Refugee Status Determination process, un/employment, and mental health concerns was the most salient finding. Policy implications are discussed in relation to the application of the Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees and the Guidelines on the Judicial Approach to Expert Medical Evidence.
AB - This study aimed to explore the ecological influences on subjective well-being identified by current and former community-dwelling asylum seekers engaged in the process of Refugee Status Determination in Australia. This article presents the qualitative component of a prospective mixed-methods study of 131 asylum seekers and refugees (T1, N = 131; T2, N = 56). The Framework Analysis method was employed to qualitatively analyse the narrative data derived from 187 semi-structured interviews documenting pre-, peri-, and post-migration experiences, and the impact of Australia’s asylum policies and procedures. Four overarching themes comprising 15 sub-themes emerged: The Refugee Status Determination process (Waiting; Uncertainty; Worry); Psychosocial factors (Un/employment & gainful activity; Medicare; Accommodation; Family separation & loneliness; Loss); Health and well-being (Mental health; Physical health & somatic issues; Hopelessness; Helplessness); and Protective factors (Hope; Support & social connectivity; Religion). The complex interface between the Refugee Status Determination process, un/employment, and mental health concerns was the most salient finding. Policy implications are discussed in relation to the application of the Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees and the Guidelines on the Judicial Approach to Expert Medical Evidence.
KW - asylum seekers
KW - psychosocial factors
KW - qualitative study
KW - Refugee Status Determination process
KW - refugees
KW - subjective well-being
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85079412878&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1363461520901639
DO - 10.1177/1363461520901639
M3 - Article
C2 - 32046618
AN - SCOPUS:85079412878
SN - 1363-4615
VL - 58
SP - 200
EP - 214
JO - Transcultural Psychiatry
JF - Transcultural Psychiatry
IS - 2
ER -