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PERCEIVED DISCRIMINATION, PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING AMONG ADOLESCENT REFUGEES IN RHINO CAMP REFUGEE SETTLEMENT, ARUA DISTRICT

1.0 Chapter One: Introduction

1.1 Background

The global population of refugees and other forcibly displaced people, resulting in the world’s immigration crisis, today is larger than the population of the United Kingdom, with unprecedented 68.5 million people. Of these variously displaced persons, over 25.4 million are refugees, half of whom are under the age of 18 (UNHCR, 2017).  A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country owing to persecution, war or violence and has crossed an international boarder to find safety in another country. Uganda is the third largest refugee-hosting nation in the world, and the largest refugee hosting country in Africa, with over 1.5million refugees. (UNHCR, 2018). Uganda has been praised for being a welcoming country to refugees, however good a place of refuge is, a refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Most likely, they cannot return home or are afraid to do so. (UNHCR, 2018). Consequently, the refugee experience is one of being at risk, cast out, or socially excluded. (Correa-Velez, Ignacio, Gifford, Sandra & Barnett, 2010).

Refugees often suffer traumatic events both in their countries of origin and also in their countries of resettlement. The bitter pangs of exile, past and current trauma, as well as the stigma and discrimination they face make refugees and immigrants vulnerable to poor psychological wellbeing (Seggane, 2016). Psychological wellbeing for these suffering refugees especially the young refugees can be attained by achieving a state of balance affected by both challenging and rewarding life events, enhancing positive emotions and relationships, providing meaningful work, and supporting personal goals and fulfilment (Kun, Balogh & Krasz, 2017). Indicators of psychological wellbeing include functionality, self-acceptance, self-autonomy, purpose and meaning in life, positive relationship with others and environmental mastery (Kheswa, 2016).

Refugees experience physical maltreatment, sexual abuse,  loss of loved ones, separation from family and witness violence towards self and others, these experiences have a negative influence on refugees’ psychological wellbeing (El-awad, Fathi, Petermann & Reinelt, 2017). For the young refugees (adolescent 12- 17 years; UNHCR, 2014) the psychological baggage of growing up in contexts of violence, crossing international borders, experiencing the trauma, loss of family, social attachments, and attempting to create a future in an uncertain world, (Correa-Velez, et. al., 2010) is psychologically daunting. The resulting stress from perceived fear and exclusion experienced by refugees, is known to contribute to the higher rates of psychological distress among socially disadvantaged populations, (Atari, 2017; Thoits, 2011)

Adolescent refugees need continuous psychosocial support to heal the psychological wounds they obtain before migration, during the process of fleeing their homes, and in their new host environment to minimize their state of loss and feelings of helplessness. Given the prolonged periods of fear and uncertainty during the arduous relocation and resettlement process, even refugees who have reached safety still face a psychological battle to get back on their feet. Therefore, psychosocial support, which includes belonging, help, counsel, connectedness and sharing among refugees, helps individuals and communities to heal from the psychological wounds, rebuild social structures, and help change people into active survivors thus improving their psychological wellbeing. Owing to the insidious nature of refugee displacements, the state of hopelessness created in their long-dimmed journeys across borders in search for safety, coupled with situations of fear, assaults, and possible harassment from the host communities, the psychological wellbeing of refugee’s remains at risk. The situation is more callous for young traumatized refugees attempting to establish a sense of belonging with their family and community where they are resettled. The cascade of negative events is overwhelmingly challenging (Correa-Velez, et. al., 2010), for a young refugee to attain a state of balance amidst waves of uncertainty is almost impossible, thus, blurring their psychological wellbeing (Dodge, et. al., 2012). Refugees endure extremely harsh conditions (UNHCR, 2017). The aftermath of these traumatic events has lasting negative implications on their psychological wellbeing. The feeling of betrayal and  experiences of suffering and loss significantly traumatize and control the lives of refugees (Betts, et. al., 2015).

1.2 Statement of the Problem

When refugees flee from their countries of origin in search of safety, they look forward to finding peace in the aftermath of having been at high risk; ejected, uprooted, cast out or socially excluded and harassed. They experience a host of other risks including violence, trauma, extreme fear and other psychological distress (Beirens, Hughes, Hek & Spicer, 2011; UNHCR, 2017). The situation in which refugees find themselves in their new place of refuge does not often meet their expectation, their future is certainly not clear nor in sight, they in most cases are not sure how to rebuild their lives after losing everything. For adolescent   refugees the uncertainty concerning their education, health, safety and concern for the general livelihood activities in a foreign land pauses such a huge challenge.  For the adolescents who are in such a critical developmental stage; the loss of homes, family, property and belonging is a huge psychological burden for them (Correa-Velez, et. al., 2010). The state of their “lives going well” that is their psychological wellbeing hangs in balance, particularly when they lack psychosocial support. Whereas, a good number of studies underpin the mental health effects of perceived discrimination on the psychological wellbeing of refugees, there is paucity of literature on the level of perceived discrimination and psychological wellbeing, and the relationship between perceived discrimination, psychosocial support, and psychological wellbeing of adolescent refugees. Therefore, a study to investigate the level of and the relationship between Perceived discrimination, psychological wellbeing of adolescent refugees is needed to inform meaningful interventions for the refugees.

1.3 Purpose of the Study

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between perceived discrimination, psychosocial support, and psychological wellbeing among adolescent refugees in Rhino camp refugee settlement in Arua district.

1.4 Objectives of the Study

This study was guided by the following objectives:

1. Determine the level of perceived discrimination, level of psychosocial support and level of psychological wellbeing among adolescent refugees in Rhino camp refugee settlement.
2. Examine the relationship between perceived discrimination and Psychological wellbeing among adolescent refugees in Rhino camp refugee settlement.

• Assess the moderating effect of psychosocial support on the relationship between perceived discrimination and Psychological wellbeing of adolescent refugees in Rhino camp refugee settlement.

1.5 Content scope of the Study

This study was confined to examining the level of perceived discrimination, psychosocial support and psychological wellbeing, the relationship between perceived discrimination, and psychological wellbeing and the moderating effect of psychosocial support on the relationship between perceived discrimination and psychological wellbeing of adolescent refugees in Rhino camp refugee settlement in Arua district in Uganda.

1.6 Geographical Scope

The study was carried out in Rhino camp refugee settlement, which is located in Arua district about 580Kms from Kampala, in north western Uganda. The camp is located about 40 miles from South Sudan border in the north, 40 miles from DRC border in the west, along River Nile on the east.  This refugee settlement was expanded in the wake of the South Sudanese civil war to host the sudden influx of refugees into northern Uganda in August 2017. (UNHCR, 2016).

1.7 Time Scope

The study covered the period 2012 to 2019; the period when the armed civil conflict that erupted on December 13^th 2012 in South Sudan, resulting in people seeking refuge in the neighbouring countries. During this period, the numbers of refugees arriving from Southern Sudan exponentially rose from 1.2 million to about 2 million (UNHCR, 2017). The report further showed that this is the period when refugees complained a lot about poor treatment and lack of support from host communities and relief providers.

1.8 Significance of the Study

We envisaged that the results of the study would provide further information on the psychological wellbeing of adolescent refugees, its effect on the quality of their lives and the role played by psychosocial support in helping adolescents cope and adjust to normal lives.

The study hoped to improve interventions that would encourage adolescent refugees facing discrimination to seek protection and counselling since feelings of discrimination may have had wide-reaching effects on adolescents’ education, health, and relationships.

Results of the study were expected to be utilized by United Nations agencies dealing with refugees, Government of Uganda, and Non-Governmental Organizations working with adolescent refugees, for the planning, provision and management of services inclined to the psychological wellbeing of adolescent refugees in Rhino camp refugee settlement and other refugee populations in Uganda and around the world.

1.9 Conceptual Frame Work

Independent variable                                                                  Dependent variable

Figure 1. Conceptual framework of the relationship between perceived discrimination, psychosocial support, and psychological wellbeing.

Refugee adolescent’s’ psychological wellbeing (positive relations, autonomy, environment mastery, self-acceptance, autonomy and personal growth), has been found to depend on their Perception of being discriminated (social exclusion, distrust and harassment) or the way an individual perceives the level of acceptance in a society in which he or she lives in (Uribe, et. al., 2016). Given the vital role psychosocial support plays in social achievements, it is envisaged that psychosocial support can be adapted to moderate perceived discrimination, in this case, among adolescent refugees (Cohen, Willis, Reuben and Kenny,1985). Thus, improving their Psychological wellbeing (Borell, et. al., 2010).