Peer-reviewed article
Self-Perception of Children and Adolescents' Refugees with Trauma: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis of the Literature.
Kulari G, Figueiredo S ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This meta-synthesis examined 24 qualitative studies involving 870 refugee children and adolescents aged 3-19 to understand how they perceive and experience trauma. The research identified five major themes: reluctance to disclose mental health distress due to stigma, social exclusion related to refugee status, desire for belonging and community, gender-specific vulnerabilities (particularly for girls), and discrimination from host communities. Refugee children reported emotional distress, identity conflicts, physical symptoms, and damaged social relationships. The findings emphasize the need for culturally sensitive, trauma-informed support that addresses mental health, social integration, and protective factors.
Key points
- Refugee children showed reluctance to disclose psychological distress due to stigma and cultural norms
- Girls faced specific protection risks including early marriage, safety threats, and heightened psychosocial vulnerability
- Children experienced pervasive discrimination from host communities, including verbal, physical, and institutional exclusion
- Social withdrawal and disrupted relationships were common responses, though some children used family cohesion and religious coping as protective strategies
- Research gaps exist in high-risk settings such as camps and detention facilities
Limitations
This is a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies, which captures lived experiences and perceptions but cannot establish causal relationships or quantify prevalence of outcomes. The review does not evaluate the effectiveness of specific interventions, limiting its ability to guide evidence-based program implementation.
Abstract
Refugee children and adolescents face significant psychological and social challenges, especially in camps or during post-resettlement. We conducted a meta-synthesis of 24 qualitative studies including 870 participants aged 3-19 to explore how they perceive trauma, considering gender, age, and unaccompanied status. Thematic analysis identified five core themes: (1) mental health perceptions, showing reluctance to disclose distress due to stigma and cultural norms; (2) stigma regarding refugee status, reflecting societal prejudice and barriers to integration; (3) desire to belong, including social withdrawal, family cohesion, and religious coping; (4) gender-specific needs, with girls facing early marriage, safety threats, and psychosocial vulnerability; and (5) discrimination from host communities, including verbal, physical, and institutional exclusion. Participants reported pervasive emotional distress, identity conflicts, somatic symptoms, and disrupted social relationships. The findings highlight the complex, multi-layered impact of forced displacement. Thematic analysis proved effective for capturing lived experiences, coping strategies, and contextual influences. These results underscore the urgent need for culturally sensitive, trauma-informed interventions addressing mental health, social support, and protective factors to promote the well-being and integration of refugee minors. The scarcity of research in high-risk camp and detention settings underscores the importance of qualitative inquiry to inform culturally grounded, multi-level psychosocial support.