Flyttfåglar - en kvalitativ studie av flyktingbarns upplevelser av krig, flykt och exil

Sammanfattning: The aim of this study was to explore refugee children’s psychological experiences of forced migration and exile in Sweden. Eleven semi structured interviews were conducted with children age 7-16. The interviews covered three main areas: life in the native country, the journey of migration, and life in Sweden. The children’s narratives were analyzed in accordance with IPA(Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis). The analysis resulted in eleven clusters of themes which covered the children’s narratives of: pre-war life and good memories; life under the threats of war; daily life during war; forced migration; arrival in Sweden; view of Sweden and the native country; life in Sweden; how they related to having family and friends left behind in their native country; how they related to the negative things about the native country; being refused asylum; and the future. The results indicated that the children had difficult experiences from the war, and sometimes also from the journey of migration. The exile in Sweden involved both positive and negative experiences. The children’s narratives showed different ways in which they related to and coped with experiences from their native country and experiences of exile in Sweden. The study showed a difference in experiences and coping strategies between the children who had been granted permanent residence and those who had been refused asylum.