Rahimi, Freshta2024-07-122024-07-122022https://hdl.handle.net/2440/141590This item is only available electronically.Hazara Afghans are the most persecuted ethnic group of Afghanistan, and since the Taliban seized control over Afghanistan in August 2021, they have increased the global refugee population, leading to an extra intake to Australia. Recent studies have found family instability in refugee families to be a core feature of the early settlement period, however there is a lack of culturally specific research in the field. In particular, the experiences of family functioning and its impact on the wellbeing of Hazara young adults, remain unknown. This qualitative study included 11 Hazara young adults, aged 18-30 years old, who had been living in Australia for at least five years. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and thematic analysis identified five themes: Lack of Communication, Stigma and Lack of Mental Health Awareness, Parent-Child Relationships, Acculturation, Gender Roles and Parental Expectations and finally, Autonomy, Control and Identity Development. These findings were discussed within the context of Bronfenbrenner's (1977) ecological theory as well as the Circumplex Model of Family Functioning. The thesis points to unique differences in the Hazara culture that remain unaccounted for in traditional and western-oriented models of family functioning and highlights the need for more culturally applicable models and service provision. Keywords: Hazara Afghan; family functioning; post-resettlement; psychological wellbeing; circumplex modelHonours; PsychologyThesis