Development and achievement of aspirations among unaccompanied refugee minors
Many unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs) struggle with mental health problems and resettlement. Since aspirations can inform and direct a person’s behaviours, understanding more about URMs’ aspirations may help us understand these struggles. This study explores URMs aspirations and whether mental he...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Adolescence and Youth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2025.2454996 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832088132167663616 |
|---|---|
| author | Elin Sofia Andersson Pål Ulleberg Ane-Marthe Solheim Skar Vivian Tvedt Marit Solhaug Næss Tine K. Jensen |
| author_facet | Elin Sofia Andersson Pål Ulleberg Ane-Marthe Solheim Skar Vivian Tvedt Marit Solhaug Næss Tine K. Jensen |
| author_sort | Elin Sofia Andersson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Many unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs) struggle with mental health problems and resettlement. Since aspirations can inform and direct a person’s behaviours, understanding more about URMs’ aspirations may help us understand these struggles. This study explores URMs aspirations and whether mental health predicts achieved aspirations. Mental health data were gathered 6 months and 2 years after the youth’s arrival in their host country. Quantitative and qualitative data on their aspirations were gathered 5 years post arrival. Mental health did not predict achieved aspirations according to binary logistic regression analyses. The qualitative analysis indicated how most of the youth organized their aspirations hierarchically according to their needs, and how aspirations are culturally and socially embedded. We discuss how the youth are able to achieve their aspirations despite having mental health problems, the importance of agency and feeling safe, and how aspirations can be understood as dynamic and changing according to their experiences. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fc3859ea1f664f2d8986104102123381 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0267-3843 2164-4527 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Adolescence and Youth |
| spelling | doaj-art-fc3859ea1f664f2d89861041021233812025-02-06T01:30:17ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Adolescence and Youth0267-38432164-45272025-12-0130110.1080/02673843.2025.2454996Development and achievement of aspirations among unaccompanied refugee minorsElin Sofia Andersson0Pål Ulleberg1Ane-Marthe Solheim Skar2Vivian Tvedt3Marit Solhaug Næss4Tine K. Jensen5Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies (NKVTS), Oslo, NorwayDepartment of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayNorwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies (NKVTS), Oslo, NorwayDepartment of Substance Use and Addiction, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, NorwayVinderen Disctrict Psychiatric Center, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, NorwayNorwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies (NKVTS), Oslo, NorwayMany unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs) struggle with mental health problems and resettlement. Since aspirations can inform and direct a person’s behaviours, understanding more about URMs’ aspirations may help us understand these struggles. This study explores URMs aspirations and whether mental health predicts achieved aspirations. Mental health data were gathered 6 months and 2 years after the youth’s arrival in their host country. Quantitative and qualitative data on their aspirations were gathered 5 years post arrival. Mental health did not predict achieved aspirations according to binary logistic regression analyses. The qualitative analysis indicated how most of the youth organized their aspirations hierarchically according to their needs, and how aspirations are culturally and socially embedded. We discuss how the youth are able to achieve their aspirations despite having mental health problems, the importance of agency and feeling safe, and how aspirations can be understood as dynamic and changing according to their experiences.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2025.2454996Adolescentsagencymental healthunaccompanied asylum seekersyouth developmentresettlement |
| spellingShingle | Elin Sofia Andersson Pål Ulleberg Ane-Marthe Solheim Skar Vivian Tvedt Marit Solhaug Næss Tine K. Jensen Development and achievement of aspirations among unaccompanied refugee minors International Journal of Adolescence and Youth Adolescents agency mental health unaccompanied asylum seekers youth development resettlement |
| title | Development and achievement of aspirations among unaccompanied refugee minors |
| title_full | Development and achievement of aspirations among unaccompanied refugee minors |
| title_fullStr | Development and achievement of aspirations among unaccompanied refugee minors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development and achievement of aspirations among unaccompanied refugee minors |
| title_short | Development and achievement of aspirations among unaccompanied refugee minors |
| title_sort | development and achievement of aspirations among unaccompanied refugee minors |
| topic | Adolescents agency mental health unaccompanied asylum seekers youth development resettlement |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2025.2454996 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT elinsofiaandersson developmentandachievementofaspirationsamongunaccompaniedrefugeeminors AT palulleberg developmentandachievementofaspirationsamongunaccompaniedrefugeeminors AT anemarthesolheimskar developmentandachievementofaspirationsamongunaccompaniedrefugeeminors AT viviantvedt developmentandachievementofaspirationsamongunaccompaniedrefugeeminors AT maritsolhaugnæss developmentandachievementofaspirationsamongunaccompaniedrefugeeminors AT tinekjensen developmentandachievementofaspirationsamongunaccompaniedrefugeeminors |