The Life Experiences of Refugees in Canada: A Comprehensive Scoping Review to Identify Unmet Needs and Barriers

Setareh Ghahari (), Josie Lui, Satmeen Nagra and Sara Morassaei
Additional contact information
Setareh Ghahari: Queen’s University
Josie Lui: Queen’s University
Satmeen Nagra: Queen’s University
Sara Morassaei: Queen’s University

Journal of International Migration and Integration, 2020, vol. 21, issue 4, No 14, 1249-1261

Abstract: Abstract Although resettlement allows for refugees to live in a safer place, there are many issues that accompany this drastic life change. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively examine the literature on the life experiences of refugees in Canada to identify the challenges that they face and their unmet needs, as well as potential sources of support. Five databases were systematically searched for articles published in the last decade that included data on the life experience of refugees in Canada. Findings were analysed in depth to generate emergent themes and synthesize common findings across studies. The review found 26 articles on the life experiences of refugees, 23 of which were qualitative studies, as well as 1 quantitative and 2 mixed methods studies. The main challenges experienced by refugees included loss or change in identity, gender role conflicts, language barriers, lack of recognition of previous education or experience, and perceived lack of support and discrimination. This comprehensive review highlights the unmet needs and complex barriers that are experienced by refugees in Canada and directs attention to priorities for future research. Differences in language, culture, and social support lead to challenges in integration and accessing services among refugees in Canada, which may have potential policy implications.

Keywords: Refugees; Integration; Well-being; Post-migration stress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12134-019-00727-3 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:joimai:v:21:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1007_s12134-019-00727-3

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.springer ... tudies/journal/12134

DOI: 10.1007/s12134-019-00727-3

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of International Migration and Integration is currently edited by Lori Wilkinson

More articles in Journal of International Migration and Integration from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().