The last two decades has seen a huge increase in research and the development of trauma recovery programs for refugees and asylum seekers. To date, the research has been dominated by a quantitative paradigm for understanding risk and protective factors for mental health and wellbeing. There is a relative dearth of studies where the role of systemic, social and personal factors on wellbeing are explored. An even smaller volume of work explores personal belief systems and existential meaning from the refugee perspective.
The current paper explores meaning in life, social connectedness and quality of life in young South Sudanese Australians aged 18 to 30 years, who formed a significant portion of Australia's humanitarian intake in the 2000s. The research was informed by a range of theories and frameworks, including psychosocial trauma frameworks and social psychological theories.
The study engaged mixed methods, utilising quantitative measures and a semi structured interview. Results indicate the dynamic, contextualised, and relational nature of being, with micro and macro factors playing prominent roles in the lives of South Sudanese Australians. The impact of trauma on the experience of meaning in life in the past, present and future was evident. Exposure to traumatic experiences played a key role in the development of personal beliefs, including beliefs about peace at the individual, relationship, and societal level. Education and family were reported as key sources of meaning in life. The prominent role of Australian systems and structures in the lives of young people also stood out. A model to represent the findings was developed and the research points to the potential of peace building with diaspora communities.The last two decades has seen a huge increase in research and the development of trauma recovery programs for refugees and asylum seekers. To date, the research has been dominated by a quantitative paradigm for understanding risk and protective factors for mental health and wellbeing. There is a relative dearth of studies where the role of systemic, social and personal factors on wellbeing are explored. An even smaller volume of work explores personal belief systems and existential meaning from the refugee perspective.
The current paper explores meaning in life, social connectedness and quality of life in young South Sudanese Australians aged 18 to 30 years, who formed a significant portion of Australia's humanitarian intake in the 2000s. The research was informed by a range of theories and frameworks, including psychosocial trauma frameworks and social psychological theories.
The study engaged mixed methods, utilising quantitative measures and a semi structured interview. Results indicate the dynamic, contextualised, and relational nature of being, with micro and macro factors playing prominent roles in the lives of South Sudanese Australians. The impact of trauma on the experience of meaning in life in the past, present and future was evident. Exposure to traumatic experiences played a key role in the development of personal beliefs, including beliefs about peace at the individual, relationship, and societal level. Education and family were reported as key sources of meaning in life. The prominent role of Australian systems and structures in the lives of young people also stood out. A model to represent the findings was developed and the research points to the potential of peace building with diaspora communities.
