A Qualitative Study of Resilience Factors of Bosnian Refugee Women Resettled in the Southern United States

ABSTRACT

This study reports findings from a qualitative investigation of seven Bosnian refugee women's coping strategies as they resettled in two cities of the Southeastern United States over five years. It focuses on their personal experiences as refugees and the factors that contributed to their resilience. Their personal narratives highlight the importance of family as well as extended family, spirituality expressed in the form of non-organized religion, and the availability of community social support services that helped them adjust to resettlement. The research discusses implications for practice and further studies to improve refugees' mental well-being.

KEYWORDS:

• Bosnian refugee women
• community social support services
• family
• resettlement
• resilience factors
• spirituality

This study was conducted as part of the University of Kentucky Research group on the study of refugee populations and other international social work issues within the College of Social Work. The study was funded by the Office of the Vice President for Research at the University of Kentucky.