Fostering Resilience: Protective Agents, Resources, and Mechanisms for Adolescent Refugees
Religious protective agents
The results of this study identify religious agents that contributed to promoting adolescent refugees’ psychosocial well-being. For example, church staff and congregants were protective agents, providing spiritual guidance, material support, after- school and social activities, and as caseworkers for adolescents experiencing trouble in school or at home.
Religious protective resources
Faith and religious involvement were identified in this study as a source of protective resources. Families with strong religious beliefs could use their faith to support adolescents in maintaining hope, making wise decisions, and developing effective coping skills. Attending church services and worshiping allowed families to feel spiritually connected, guided, and better able to overcome daily stressors and challenging transitions.
Recommendations
The authors make a number of recommendations for policy makers and service providers in the US. For example, they suggest building or strengthening the relationships between groups and organizations that can help refugee adolescents, including faith institutions.
Comment:
This article speaks to a growing body of research about the crucial role of religious engagement and other factors for supporting individuals and communities facing challenges of displacement. It reflects the majority of work in this area which is not based in humanitarian contexts and is based around Christian communities.
