Two sides of the same coin: Factors that support and challenge the wellbeing of refugees resettled in a small urban center. (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: El-Bialy, Rowan; Mulay, Shree
• Is Part Of: Health & place. Volume 35(2015:Sep.)
• Page Start: 52
• Page End: 59
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: Refugee -- Resettlement -- Wellbeing -- Environment -- Diversity -- Urban; Health -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Health services accessibility -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Political planning -- Periodicals; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Health Policy -- Periodicals; Health Services Accessibility -- Periodicals; Public Health -- Periodicals; Public Policy -- Periodicals; Sociology, Medical -- Periodicals; Épidémiologie -- Périodiques; Politique sanitaire -- Périodiques; Santé, Services de -- Accessibilité -- Périodiques; Health services accessibility; Health -- Social aspects; Political planning; Public health; Social medicine; Periodicals; 613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.06.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1353-8292

Abstract

Abstract: For refugees who undergo permanent resettlement, characteristics of the resettlement context influence their ability to heal from pre-migration persecution and achieve a sense of wellbeing. This ethnographic study examines the impact of place-related determinants on the sense of wellbeing experienced by refugees resettled in a small urban center. The paper reports on the results of in-depth interviews that were conducted with ten former refugees in St. John's, Canada. We found that challenges and coping resources both emerged from the same aspects of the city, including its built environment, natural environment, history, culture, and low ethnic diversity. Future research should attend to how aspects of the resettlement context can simultaneously challenge and support refugees' sense of wellbeing.