- Forced migration and refugee health
Trauma and adult learning. Re(gu)lation – refugees’ experiences with helpful strategies for emotional regulation, learning and well-being
Traumatic experiences create difficulties concerning concentration, attention and memory, as well as impact classroom behaviour and social relationships with implications for learning and function. In this project, we will explore the impact of potentially traumatic events (PTEs) on adult refugees’ learning and function.
Contact the research group
Janita Flem Tomren
Arnfinn Jomar Andersen
Facts about the project
Period
2018-2026
Category
Project description
Aims of this study are twofold. First, to deepen our understanding of how adult refugees attending the Introduction Programme experience the impact of trauma on learning. Second, to study the ways refugees are helped, or help themselves, to regulate emotions, thoughts, and behaviour, in order to learn and function the best way possible.
We will conduct a phenomenological qualitative study among former and/or present refugee participants in the Introduction Programme. The study comprises thirty semi-structured in-depth interviews, and a focus group interview of four to six persons. The in-depth interviews will address topics such as PTEs’ impact on learning and function, and emotional regulation as a potential success factor for adult refugees’ learning. Subsequently, the focus group interview aims to bring forth additional perspectives on the insights obtained from the individual interviews. We will also use questionnaires about past stressful life events, symptoms, and current psychological distress after PTEs; the Stressful Life Events Screening Questionnaire – Revised (SLESQ-Revised), and the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5).