Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The United States is the world’s top resettlement country for refugees and the
third largest community of Burmese refugees lives in the state of Indiana. Many refugee
families look to their college-age youth to enhance their well-being. This study explored
the lived experiences of Burmese refugee college students’ resettlement and the role that
social support plays in that approach. In order to explore the refugee students’
resettlement experiences and the role of social support, social support theory and
conservation of resources theory were used to explain the importance of social support
for refugee students’ successful resettlement.
A qualitative study using thematic analysis was conducted using 32 in-depth
individual interviews with Burmese refugee students in higher education. Through an indepth
examination of the lived experiences of Burmese refugee college students’
resettlement, four main themes were identified: challenges of resettlement, resettlement
needs, the resources of social support, and resettlement experiences. Refugee students
actively cultivated their life and showed aspirations of being successful members of this
new environment. Even though they faced many challenges and needs identified through
interviews, the participants overcame these barriers including a different culture and
language and prosper in their lives in the host country. The social support from the coethnic
community and people in the host country both affected the participants’
successful resettlement. Co-ethnic community also plays an important role to pursue
higher education. The study findings will be used by social work practice, programs, and policies to
improve the success of Burmese refugee students' resettlement. This study would serve as
a foundation for enhancing refugee students’ resettlement and understanding the critical
role of social support resources during the resettlement period. Burmese refugee students
would be an important avenue to develop international relations and achieve social
justice. In spite of a variety of barriers and prejudices, Burmese refugee students bloom
and flourish in their new environment in the United States. They are beneficiaries but
also currently benefactors. The perspectives on refugees need to change and move from
victims to the citizens of the world.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:IUPUI/oai:scholarworks.iupui.edu:1805/30344 |
| Date | 09 1900 |
| Creators | Lim, Minyoung |
| Contributors | Adamek, Margaret E., Pierce, Barbara, Lee, Jessica E., Huber, Lesa |
| Source Sets | Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
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