The Integration Process and Coping Strategies of Farsi Speaking refugee Women in Sweden

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore integration meanings, experiences, and challenges as well as coping strategies among Farsi-speaking refugee women in Sweden. Therefore, three questions related to the main aims of research prepared including; (1) what does integration mean to Farsi-speaking refugee women? (2) What challenges did Farsi-speaking refugee women face during the process of integration in Sweden? (3) How do they cope with their problems and challenges during the process of integration? A qualitative method with an explanatory interview was used to collect the data. The interviews conducted among six Farsi-speaking refugee women from Iran and Afghanistan in Sweden and findings were analyzed by using thematic analysis. Results of the findings showed that women perceived integration as an adaptation to Swedish culture and law. The main challenge that they faced was the language barrier which impacted the different aspects of their life such as employment and their well-being. In respect to coping strategies, although, participants used both problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping, emotion-focused coping were more common among women. In the first coping strategy, seeking social support was identified, and in the latter one, praying, social activities, the success of their children, and distance from participation in their own community were the main strategies which used by participants. Findings of this study highlight the role of social work professsion to address the challenges which refugee women have faced during the process of integration, in different levels, and provide better services in regard to their challenges in order to help them to overcome their challenges.