Lisa Merry, Sandra Pelaez, Nancy Edwards Refugees, asylum-seekers and undocumented migrants and parenthood: Living transnationally Lisa Merry, Sandra Pelaez, Nancy Edwards

Objective: To synthesize the recent qualitative literature and identify the integrative themes describing the parenthood experiences of refugees, asylum-seekers and undocumented migrants Merry L, Pelaez S, Edwards NC. Refugees, Asylum-seekers, Undocumented Migrants and the Experience of Parenthood: A synthesis of the qualitative literature. Globalization and Health. 2017;13:75.

Methods: Seven online databases for the period Jan 2006 to Feb 2017 French and English peer-reviewed articles and graduate-level dissertations Qualitative literature that examined the parenthood experiences* of refugees, asylum-seekers and undocumented migrants We searched seven online databases: EMBASE, Medline, Global Health, CINAHL, PsycINFO, sociological abstracts, and social work abstracts.= searched for “Migration” and “parenthood”. Empirical research- published in a peer reviewed journal or a graduate dissertation. Studies must have included refugees, asylum seekers and/or undocumented migrants. Experience of … from the perspective of migrants themselves. Mothers, fathers or anyone involved in the parenting experience. The geographic location could have been anywhere. * Experience of becoming a parent and/or the experience of parenting (i.e., the process of supporting the physical, social, psychological and intellectual development) a child/children including teenagers and youth

Methods: Data extracted and descriptively summarised included: Paper characteristics: publication year, language, and discipline Study information: the objective, research design, the data collection methods, country location and migrant population studied Thematic analysis was used to identify integrative themes that reflected and described the parenthood experiences of refugees, asylum-seekers and undocumented migrants across the research

Results

Results Location of study United States Europe Descriptor N= 138 studies Location of study United States Europe Australia or New Zealand Canada Israel LMIC   54.3 % (75) 14.5 % (20) 12.3 % (17) 2.2 % (3) 2.2% (3) Migration Source Region Latin America Sub-Saharan Africa South East Asia North Africa and/or Middle East Eastern Europe or Russia South Asia 44.9 % (62) 39.9 % (55) 15.2 % (21) 13.8 % (19) 8.7 % (12) 8.0 % (11) Descriptor N= 138 studies Migrant group Undocumented Refugee Asylum-seeker   44.9 % (62) 54.3 % (75) 7.2 % (10) Parents Mothers Fathers Mothers and fathers Mothers and extended family Mothers, fathers and extended family 50.7 % (70) 6.5 % (9) 37.7 % (52) 2.2 % (3) 2.9 % (4) Morocco, South Africa, and the Dominican Republic

Results Location of study United States Europe Descriptor N= 138 studies Location of study United States Europe Australia or New Zealand Canada Israel LMIC   54.3 % (75) 14.5 % (20) 12.3 % (17) 2.2 % (3) 2.2% (3) Migration Source Region Latin America Sub-Saharan Africa South East Asia North Africa and/or Middle East Eastern Europe or Russia South Asia 44.9 % (62) 39.9 % (55) 15.2 % (21) 13.8 % (19) 8.7 % (12) 8.0 % (11) Descriptor N= 138 studies Migrant group Undocumented Refugee Asylum-seeker   44.9 % (62) 54.3 % (75) 7.2 % (10) Parents Mothers Fathers Mothers and fathers Mothers and extended family Mothers, fathers and extended family 50.7 % (70) 6.5 % (9) 37.7 % (52) 2.2 % (3) 2.9 % (4) 37% of studies were undocumented Latin American migrants in the US

Results Location of study United States Europe Descriptor N= 138 studies Location of study United States Europe Australia or New Zealand Canada Israel LMIC   54.3 % (75) 14.5 % (20) 12.3 % (17) 2.2 % (3) 2.2% (3) Migration Source Region Latin America Sub-Saharan Africa South East Asia North Africa and/or Middle East Eastern Europe or Russia South Asia 44.9 % (62) 39.9 % (55) 15.2 % (21) 13.8 % (19) 8.7 % (12) 8.0 % (11) Descriptor N= 138 studies Migrant group Undocumented Refugee Asylum-seeker   44.9 % (62) 54.3 % (75) 7.2 % (10) Parents Mothers Fathers Mothers and fathers Mothers and extended family Mothers, fathers and extended family 50.7 % (70) 6.5 % (9) 37.7 % (52) 2.2 % (3) 2.9 % (4) 37% of studies were undocumented Latin American migrants in the US

Results Location of study United States Europe Descriptor N= 138 studies Location of study United States Europe Australia or New Zealand Canada Israel LMIC   54.3 % (75) 14.5 % (20) 12.3 % (17) 2.2 % (3) 2.2% (3) Migration Source Region Latin America Sub-Saharan Africa South East Asia North Africa and/or Middle East Eastern Europe or Russia South Asia 44.9 % (62) 39.9 % (55) 15.2 % (21) 13.8 % (19) 8.7 % (12) 8.0 % (11) Descriptor N= 138 studies Migrant group Undocumented Refugee Asylum-seeker   44.9 % (62) 54.3 % (75) 7.2 % (10) Parents Mothers Fathers Mothers and fathers Mothers and extended family Mothers, fathers and extended family 50.7 % (70) 6.5 % (9) 37.7 % (52) 2.2 % (3) 2.9 % (4) Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Northern Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. 34% of studies were on refugees from Sub-Saharan Africa in Australia, the US, Europe and Canada

Results Location of study United States Europe Descriptor N= 138 studies Location of study United States Europe Australia or New Zealand Canada Israel LMIC   54.3 % (75) 14.5 % (20) 12.3 % (17) 2.2 % (3) 2.2% (3) Migration Source Region Latin America Sub-Saharan Africa South East Asia North Africa and/or Middle East Eastern Europe or Russia South Asia 44.9 % (62) 39.9 % (55) 15.2 % (21) 13.8 % (19) 8.7 % (12) 8.0 % (11) Descriptor N= 138 studies Migrant group Undocumented Refugee Asylum-seeker   44.9 % (62) 54.3 % (75) 7.2 % (10) Parents Mothers Fathers Mothers and fathers Mothers and extended family Mothers, fathers and extended family 50.7 % (70) 6.5 % (9) 37.7 % (52) 2.2 % (3) 2.9 % (4)

Results Location of study United States Europe Descriptor N= 138 studies Location of study United States Europe Australia or New Zealand Canada Israel LMIC   54.3 % (75) 14.5 % (20) 12.3 % (17) 2.2 % (3) 2.2% (3) Migration Source Region Latin America Sub-Saharan Africa South East Asia North Africa and/or Middle East Eastern Europe or Russia South Asia 44.9 % (62) 39.9 % (55) 15.2 % (21) 13.8 % (19) 8.7 % (12) 8.0 % (11) Descriptor N= 138 studies Migrant group Undocumented Refugee Asylum-seeker   44.9 % (62) 54.3 % (75) 7.2 % (10) Parents Mothers Fathers Mothers and fathers Mothers and extended family Mothers, fathers and extended family 50.7 % (70) 6.5 % (9) 37.7 % (52) 2.2 % (3) 2.9 % (4) Study populations were most often parents of school-aged children (29%; n=40) and teenagers/youth (31%; n=42)

Results: integrative themes Experiencing hardship and loss in the context of precarious migration and past traumas Fear of deportation and family separation, ineligible for services Parenthood result of rape, past memories of war and loss of family affect relationships with children and intensifies safety concerns for children Three themes were identified across the literature. Hardship and loss were significant- including discrimination,. Adapting to new languages, being exposed to different ways of parenting,, and new systems- schools, child welfare, and healthcare. Also changing roles, particularly gender roles, which causes tension between parents and children. All affected parenthood experiences in multiple ways. Have to discuss potential deportation and plan for it, it also affects movement and all activities, including going to school and accessing services Impacted safety bc wouldn’t seek help including family violence for fear of deportation. And having a precarious status also means they didn’t always have access to services. Experiences of past traumas was also identified as an important factor affecting parenthood experiences…

Results: integrative themes Building resilience and strength by bridging language, norms and expectations Children source of strength and justification for sacrifice Family, faith and maintenance of language and culture key resources New languages and ways of doing empowering for parents and children Despite significant adversity, across the literature, what also emerged is that families exhibit tremendous resiliency and strength. What is particularly unique for migrant families with children is that a significant source of strength is their children. Families are motivated to overcome adversity for the sake of their children. And the better future for their children justifies their hardships and sacrifice. Family closeness, their faith, their maintenance of language and culture were also key resources. Source of pride and it served to resist internalizing negative perceptions about themselves and to resist oppression. Also form of social and economic capital. However, their was a drive to learn new langugages and ways of doing, and this was empowering for both parents and children.

Results: integrative themes Living transnationally: obligations, movements & resources Supporting family and parenting children back home Transnational ties maintained through serial migration, deportation and return migration Transnational support and resources The third theme relates to “living transnationally”. (i.e., links with their home country- either by maintaining contact from a distance or by return visits). It was a continuous and pervasive dimension to families’ experiences- and intersected with the themes of hardship and resiliency- Transnational ties included obligations- such as… Feelings of guilt. And feeling torn between providing for their children in the new country and those back home. Also worry about family especially if unrest and war back home. Undocumented parents cannot travel back or have family visit. For childcare, work, and family commitments… and these movements alter the family structure which affects family dynamics, parenting and relationships between parents and children. Conversely, transnational ties also serve as a source of support and resource. Parents seeks support for parenting advice on a range of topics (nutrition, discipline) and to resolve family conflicts. Family back home are a source of social support. A source of mainting culture and language. Another resource is healthcare,- as families may also return to use health services. They may also, or return for, employment or education or return children for childcare.

Implications Perspectives of fathers and extended family members Needs of asylum-seeker parents Research in LMIC contexts Address issues related to migrant parents’ precarious status and effects of trauma, which pose unique challenges for these families Enhance strength and resilience of migrant families A transnational lens may be beneficial Addressing transnational concerns (e.g., family separation and reunification) Acknowledging transnational resources and fostering a transnational identity Conducting transnational research The important takeaway from this review is in regards to the theme on living transnationally.. The discourse at the political and practice level has been on integration and on the experiences within the host country. And I think that that we may want to shift our perspective. To a transnational lens, which I believe may be beneficial. As careproviders –I think we need to do more to consider… As a way to enhance resiliency we may consider- Aknowledge and encourage transnational resources. Fostering a transnational identity would validate their experience. More research to fully understand the family life experiences and the impact on health and well being. This includes considering the impact of transnational contexts on families, but also gather data across countries and consider the impact on those who back home as well.

Lisa.merry@umontreal.ca Thank you!