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The Experiences of Minors Seeking Asylum in the United States: A Modified Consensual Qualitative Research Analysis
Author(s) -
Sangmo Lodoe,
DiRisio Aislyn C.,
D'Andrea Megan R.,
SingerPomerantz Safia,
Baranowski Kim A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.22627
Subject(s) - refugee , asylum seeker , psychiatry , torture , mental health , anxiety , persecution , stressor , domestic violence , immigration detention , population , psychology , medicine , qualitative research , suicide prevention , poison control , clinical psychology , human rights , medical emergency , political science , environmental health , social science , sociology , politics , law
Abstract Minors fleeing violence in their countries of origin constitute a significant portion of asylum seekers in the United States. Medical and mental health professionals provide continuity care services and offer pro bono forensic evaluations for this population to document evidence of human rights abuses and torture. The present study included a retrospective, qualitative chart review of deidentified personal declarations and clinician medico–legal affidavits associated with 36 asylum seekers under 21 years of age. Data were analyzed through a modified consensual qualified research (CQR‐M) approach to identify patterns in these individuals’ reports of persecution and assess health outcomes. Among the cases studied, violence by organized criminal groups (47.2%), family‐based violence (44.4%), and gender‐based violence (44.4%) were the most commonly cited reasons minors sought asylum. Evaluators documented a wide range of psychological sequelae: 80.5% of minors presented with clinically significant symptoms associated with trauma‐ and stressor‐related disorders, depression, and/or anxiety at the time of their applications for asylum. Of note, almost three‐quarters of the minors reported current enrollment in school and two‐thirds reported factors related to adaptive functioning. Despite reported exposure to premigratory and migratory trauma, postmigratory stressors, and psychological sequelae related to their experiences of violence, these young asylum seekers exhibited signs of resilience and a range of health‐promoting strengths.