Exploring the Impact of Employment on the Health and Wellbeing of Refugee Women from Middle Eastern Backgrounds
Date
2020
Authors
Kaur, Gur P
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Abstract
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 25.9 million people
around the world are classified as refugees. The majority of research based on this demographic
focuses on the negative experiences and trauma refugees face before, after, and during the
resettlement process in a new host country (Whittaker et al., 2005; Sherwood et al., 2012).
Although research on refugee populations has been a growing area of interest, there is little
research on specific aspects of resettlement, including employment, and its relationship to health
and wellbeing. Therefore, the aim of this study is to address this gap in the literature by exploring
the experiences of Middle Eastern women with refugee backgrounds in relation to looking for
work and working, and how these experiences have impacted their sense of health and wellbeing.
The lack of existing literature in this area and the need to accommodate for a conceptualisation of
health and wellbeing in regards to employment for this demographic necessitated the
implementation of qualitative analysis, specifically, Thematic Analysis. Data was obtained
through semi-structured interviews with 16 refugee women with Middle Eastern backgrounds.
Interviews were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six phases for conducting thematic
analysis. Analysis of the interviews revealed four overarching themes: Motivation to Work,
Barriers in Gaining Employment, Unfair Treatment atWork and PsychologicalWellbeing and the
Refugee Experience. One of the main implications from this study is that it is important to provide
consistent support to refugee women even once employment has been gained.
School/Discipline
School of Psychology
Dissertation Note
Thesis (B.PsychSc(Hons)) -- University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2020
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