The Importance of Local and Global Social Ties for the Mental Health and Well-Being of Recently Resettled Refugee-Background Women in Australia

Abstract

Social connections are foundational to the human condition and are inherently disrupted when people are forcibly displaced from their home countries. At a time of record high global forced migration, there is value in better understanding how refugee-background individuals engage theirsocial supports or ties in resettlement contexts. A mixed methods research design aimed to understand the complexities of how 104 refugee-background women experienced their social networks in the first few months of resettlement in Australia. One of the research activities involved participants completing a survey with both quantitative and qualitative components. The quantitative analyses identified the impact of post-migration living difficulties that represented social stressors (worry about family, loneliness and boredom, feeling isolated, and racial discrimination) on the women’s mental health outcomes in the months following resettlement. The qualitative data highlighted the complexities of social relationships serving as both stressors and sources of support, and the importance of recognizing extended families and supports around the globe. The findings point to the need for nuanced accounts of the social contexts surrounding refugee resettlement as important influences able to promote trauma-informed and gender sensitive practices to support mental health and well-being in new settings.

AHRC Efforts Action to Reduce Racial Discrimination Cases Occur in Australia

“…There were 401 complaints in 2015-2016 which then decreased to 329 complaints in 2016-2017. (Murray et al, 2022)…”

The Resettlement Journey: Understanding The Role of Social Connectedness on Well-being and Life Satisfaction among (Im)migrants and Refugees: A Systematic Review

“…(Im)migrants and refugees often experience lower levels of well-being and life satisfaction compared to native-born residents in their host countries, and refugees are recognised as one of the most vulnerable groups in our society in terms of risk for poor health [3][4][5] While navigating the challenges of resettlement, rebuilding social connections presents a significant yet often overlooked obstacle. The absence of close relationships and a sense of belonging can lead to increased stress, isolation, and physical health problems, that hinder the resettlement process [6,7].…”