Abstract

Titel: Ur elden in i askan. En kvalitativ studie om det sociala nätverkets betydelse för ensamkommande barn

Keywords: unaccompanied refugee children, social network, risk and resilience, social work.

Authors: Karin Bodå och Leila Silva

The main purpose of this study is to illuminate and describe the importance of having a social network for unaccompanied refugee children in Sweden. Using qualitative interviews this study looks at their possibilities to create a social network in Sweden and how their network helps them to solve problems. Knowledge of this subject is important for social workers, in order to be able to encourage and help unaccompanied refugee children to build a social network. The base for our analysis is attachment theory, coping theory, social network theory, KASAM theory, risk and resilience theory, system theory are used to give deeper insight into experiences of four unaccompanied refugee boys. Important results found that their social networks affected their possibilities to handle problems. They felt that being surrounded by people who supported them made them feel less lonely. Further results showed that they felt limited in creating a social network during their first time in Sweden, mainly because of language difficulties, culture differences and the feeling of not being accepted. Finally we found out that some had negative experiences of social workers. Social worker’s approach affected their wellbeing.