A Mixed Method Investigation of Familial Stressors among Recently Relocated Iraqi Refugee Children in

the United StatesMatthew Nelson, MA

Julia Meredith Hess, PhDJessica Goodkind, PhD

At the close of 2009, there were 43.3 million forcibly displaced people worldwide (UNHCR, 2010)

From 1983 – 2004, the U.S. resettled 1.6 million refugees, which represents 10% annually of immigration to the U.S. (Singer & Wilson, 2006)

1 of every 5 children in the U.S. is a child of an immigrant (Suarez-Orozco, 2000)

Luxation

War in Iraq

~4 Million displaced people in Iraq and neighboring countries (Syria & Jordan)

~135 refugees resettled in Albuquerque between Oct 2008 and Sep 2009

(represented 40-50% of all refugees to be resettled in New Mexico during that

time

Dislocation / Relocation of families

Ruptures

Children: “Kids thrive in minimal family discord.” (Suarez-Orozco, 2001)

Often underestimated issue

Quantitative

Depression & Anxiety

Gender and Self-Worth: “They need jobs so that they can see the

life”

Production: “In Iraq, it is very rare that you can find someone that does not work, especially men. Everyone

should support his family.”

QualitativeRole Inversion: “Now it’s upside-down. My mom is working and my dad is not

working.”

“Production” & “Consumption”

The State: Medicaid/TANF/Food Stamps redefine “head of household”

Female Producers: “Everything is provided, so we are not missing anything.”

Male Consumers: There are no jobs, so there is “no life.”

Child Producers: Cultural/Linguistic

Prominent Issues: Employment, Education, and Language

ConclusionsDislocation is cyclical

Return Policy

Implications for children

Suggestions:

More adequate surveillance of self-worth/dignity

Better quantitative scales to bridge depression and self-worth measures

More emphasis on mixed-method research