Rupture and liminality: Experiences of Scotland's refugee population during a time of COVID-19 lockdown
The disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic had profound effects on refugees. In migrating to seek safety, refugees demonstrate resilience, resourcefulness and the ability to adapt to stressful situations. However, social distancing and self-isolation measures greatly impacted these individuals,...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-12-01
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| Series: | SSM: Qualitative Research in Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321523001129 |
| _version_ | 1827592849027235840 |
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| author | Nicole Vidal Olivia Sagan Alison Strang Gianluca Palombo |
| author_facet | Nicole Vidal Olivia Sagan Alison Strang Gianluca Palombo |
| author_sort | Nicole Vidal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic had profound effects on refugees. In migrating to seek safety, refugees demonstrate resilience, resourcefulness and the ability to adapt to stressful situations. However, social distancing and self-isolation measures greatly impacted these individuals, as they stand to risk the most from interruptions to integration. In this paper, we examine the implications of increased loneliness and isolation for refugees’ experiences with integration. We argue, using original interview data, that the demands placed on some refugees through extremely harsh circumstances can leave many even more vulnerable, as was evident in extreme during the COVID-19 lockdowns. The findings of this study pertain to the refugee pandemic experience in relation to loneliness, hopelessness and, more so: agency, resilience and post-traumatic growth. In recognising that rupture and liminality are intrinsically linked to feelings of loneliness, mental wellbeing, or its erosion, the paper demonstrates the complexity of loneliness and its potential to cause long-term damage to mental and physical health. Our findings suggest the importance of an approach to integration that recognises the unique needs of refugees. Where emotionally supportive social networks are weak or absent, it must be a priority to enable meaningful connections with other trusted human beings. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:00:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4f729ca5711f4f2eb7f8a20d710c74bb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2667-3215 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:00:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SSM: Qualitative Research in Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-4f729ca5711f4f2eb7f8a20d710c74bb2023-12-08T04:47:10ZengElsevierSSM: Qualitative Research in Health2667-32152023-12-014100328Rupture and liminality: Experiences of Scotland's refugee population during a time of COVID-19 lockdownNicole Vidal0Olivia Sagan1Alison Strang2Gianluca Palombo3Institute for Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Corresponding author.Division of Psychology, Sociology and Education, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, United KingdomInstitute for Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, United KingdomInstitute for Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, United KingdomThe disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic had profound effects on refugees. In migrating to seek safety, refugees demonstrate resilience, resourcefulness and the ability to adapt to stressful situations. However, social distancing and self-isolation measures greatly impacted these individuals, as they stand to risk the most from interruptions to integration. In this paper, we examine the implications of increased loneliness and isolation for refugees’ experiences with integration. We argue, using original interview data, that the demands placed on some refugees through extremely harsh circumstances can leave many even more vulnerable, as was evident in extreme during the COVID-19 lockdowns. The findings of this study pertain to the refugee pandemic experience in relation to loneliness, hopelessness and, more so: agency, resilience and post-traumatic growth. In recognising that rupture and liminality are intrinsically linked to feelings of loneliness, mental wellbeing, or its erosion, the paper demonstrates the complexity of loneliness and its potential to cause long-term damage to mental and physical health. Our findings suggest the importance of an approach to integration that recognises the unique needs of refugees. Where emotionally supportive social networks are weak or absent, it must be a priority to enable meaningful connections with other trusted human beings.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321523001129RefugeesAsylum-seekersLonelinessIsolationScotland |
| spellingShingle | Nicole Vidal Olivia Sagan Alison Strang Gianluca Palombo Rupture and liminality: Experiences of Scotland's refugee population during a time of COVID-19 lockdown SSM: Qualitative Research in Health Refugees Asylum-seekers Loneliness Isolation Scotland |
| title | Rupture and liminality: Experiences of Scotland's refugee population during a time of COVID-19 lockdown |
| title_full | Rupture and liminality: Experiences of Scotland's refugee population during a time of COVID-19 lockdown |
| title_fullStr | Rupture and liminality: Experiences of Scotland's refugee population during a time of COVID-19 lockdown |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rupture and liminality: Experiences of Scotland's refugee population during a time of COVID-19 lockdown |
| title_short | Rupture and liminality: Experiences of Scotland's refugee population during a time of COVID-19 lockdown |
| title_sort | rupture and liminality experiences of scotland s refugee population during a time of covid 19 lockdown |
| topic | Refugees Asylum-seekers Loneliness Isolation Scotland |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321523001129 |
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