Experiences of wellbeing and resilience among refugee mothers and families in Calgary during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the role of participation in HIPPY, a home visiting program

Abstract

<abstract> <p>In order to provide meaningful and effective support to refugees in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as during post-pandemic recovery efforts, it is critical to explore the experiences of refugee mothers and families during the pandemic, and to identify sources of resilience that can be leveraged to promote individual and household wellbeing. From November 2020 to June 2021, we conducted in-depth interviews with mothers from refugee backgrounds (n = 28) who resettled in Calgary, Alberta and are currently participating in the Multicultural Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) program. Interviews were conducted virtually using Microsoft Teams; we sought to better understand the pathways and barriers to wellbeing experienced by refugee mothers during the pandemic. The results indicate that the refugee mothers and families in our study experienced widespread disruptions to education and employment and increased motherhood burden, contributing to diminished wellbeing. Mental health was further impacted by heightened levels of worry, stress and social isolation, as well as intense fear pertaining to the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Some mothers reported experiencing barriers to accessing healthcare services and reliable health information during the pandemic. In the face of these challenges, the mothers demonstrated great resilience and identified tangible individual, household and extra-household factors and resources that supported them in coping with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, our findings suggest that participation in HIPPY played a significant role in fostering the resilience of the participating mothers and families during the pandemic, speaking to the potential of home visiting intervention models in mitigating household hardship during current and future public health crises.</p> </abstract>

Use of participatory action research to support Syrian refugee mothers in the resettlement period in Canada: A longitudinal study

“…This finding is linked to hopes for their children’s future and the potential for prosperity. Consistent with other research on the effects of Covid-19 on newcomers and refugee mothers, our findings show that Syrian mothers experienced a negative impact on their health and well-being [ 33 , 34 ]. These negative affects were frequently related to social isolation and an increase in their gendered, domestic care responsibilities.…”

“…The most difficult thing is I can’t give her more difficulties on her shoulder , yeah , that’s enough for her . So , I just get silent , I don’t tell them even if I want to tel l. [ 34 ]…”

Hospital pharmacists’ mental health during home isolation in the post-pandemic era of COVID-19: influencing factors, coping strategies, and the mediating effect of resilience

“…Previous studies have reported a variety of coping strategies, such as establishing harmonious interpersonal relationships, building a good community environment, and creating a good climate of public opinion ( 18 ). These external pillars have played an instrumental role in surmounting adversities amidst the pandemic ( 19 ). In addition, personal factors such as a positive mindset, optimism, and inner drive are also important, with resilience being one of the individual inner drives that have been particularly highlighted in previous reports ( 16 ).…”

“…Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID- 19) has left an indelible mark on community life, healthcare, and education (1,2). Governments worldwide have responded with myriad measures, ranging from city lockdowns to social isolation, quarantines for infected populations, and home isolation (3).…”