Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Peterson, Donna J.

Committee Member

Hardman, Alisha M.

Committee Member

Wilmoth, Joe D.

Committee Member

Seal, Susan

Date of Degree

5-4-2018

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

Major

Human Development and Family Studies

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

College

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Department

School of Human Sciences

Abstract

This study utilized a phenomenological approach to describe the experience of displaced individuals and families in a condition of statelessness in a refugee camp and their experiences prelight, translight, and postlight. Topics addressed included the conditions that led to flight from the country of origin and the individual and family experiences in the country of origin prior to flight and during flight, the experiences of living as a refugee in a refugee camp in Greece, and the hopes and dreams of the future for the individual and the family. Fourteen individuals, including five children in seven families were interviewed in the study. Four of the seven families in the research included multiple members of the immediate family. Data analysis followed Moustakas’ (1994) traditional phenomenological technique. Results indicated turmoil in the country of origin was the primary reason for flight. All nine adult refugees indicated some type of danger or unrest necessitating flight from their country of origin. Two families were forced from their country of origin based on ethnicity. Results also indicated that separation of immediate family members was a common experience among refugee families. Six of the seven families reported separation, for various reasons, from immediate family members during the time of this study. Those separated expressed a desire to remain in close contact by any means possible with family members; this was critical for survival, according to those interviewed. Although there were some negative expressions of life as a refugee, such as the difficulty in understanding asylum processes, boredom and a lack of purpose, and a lack of opportunity for education and skills training in the camp, the overall reflections were positive, sharing hopefulness for a better future.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/17656

Comments

displaced people||refugees||effect of family||Greece

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