Active survival in the lives of unaccompanied minors: coping strategies,resilience, and the relevance of religion |
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| Authors: | Muireann Ní Raghallaigh Robbie Gilligan |
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| Institution: | 1. Lecturer in Social Work, School of Applied Social Science, University College Dublin, and;2. Professor of Social Work, Head of School of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin and Associate Director of the Children's Research Centre, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland |
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| Abstract: | Asylum‐seeking unaccompanied minors contend with numerous challenges as they adjust to living in a new country. Although increasing attention has been paid to their capacity for resilience, little research has been done on the exact manner in which they cope. This paper describes some of the insights gleaned from a qualitative study undertaken with unaccompanied minors living in Ireland. Six different coping strategies are identified, namely: (1) Maintaining continuity in a changed context, (2) Adjusting by learning and changing, (3) Adopting a positive outlook, (4) Suppressing emotions and seeking distraction, (5) Acting independently, and (6) Distrusting. These are described in turn. Particular attention is paid to the role of religion in relation to the participants' coping strategies. |
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| Keywords: | asylum seekers coping strategies religious faith resilience unaccompanied minors |
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