Family-like Relationships and Wellbeing of Young Refugees in Finland, Norway, and Scotland

Marja Tiilikainen (), Marte Knag Fylkesnes and Sharon A. McGregor
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Marja Tiilikainen: Migration Institute of Finland, Hämeenkatu 13, 20500 Turku, Finland
Marte Knag Fylkesnes: Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, NORCE, Nygårdsgaten 112-114, 5008 Bergen, Norway
Sharon A. McGregor: Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection, University of Strathclyde, Curran Building, 94 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0LG, UK

Social Sciences, 2023, vol. 12, issue 12, 1-15

Abstract: In this article, we explore the role of family-like relationships in creating wellbeing for unaccompanied minor refugees (UMRs) to Europe. Our theoretical point of departure is a relational approach to wellbeing as conceptualized by Sarah C. White. The data comprises interviews with 51 settled UMRs in Finland, Norway, and Scotland, focused on their social networks, and a selection of paired interviews with young people alongside someone they defined as family-like and important for their wellbeing today. Findings illuminate the important role family-like relationships have in meeting the daily needs of young refugees. These relationships are ascribed meaning in the context of young people’s wider networks and ideas of ‘what family should do’. Family-like relationships gain particular importance for UMRs in two different ways: first, the physical absence of the family of origin enforces children and young people’s need to create trusted, reciprocal networks. Second, building family-like relationships is necessary in a new country where UMRs grow up and face new expectations, needs, and opportunities. We argue that relational wellbeing is built in a hybrid ‘third space’. A welfare state should support the wellbeing of UMRs by nurturing welcoming communities and providing UMRs help with building family-like relationships through formal and other support networks.

Keywords: unaccompanied minor refugees; young refugees; relational wellbeing; family-like relationships; doing family; kinship; third space (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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