Relational Upheaval During Refugee Resettlement: Service Provider Perspectives

• Published date: 01 October 2020
• Author: Sarah Myers Tlapek,J. Kale Monk,Cheyenne White
• Date: 01 October 2020
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12468

S M T , J. K M,  C W University of Missouri

Relational Upheaval During Refugee Resettlement:

Service Provider Perspectives

Objective: We seek to provide insight on

intimate relationships and service provider

response for refugees during the resettlement

transition in the United States.

Background: Refugees resettling in the United

States face numerous stressful transitions that

could affect their relationships with intimate

partners. Thus, refugees may be at risk for

increased relationship upheaval, yet typical

options for support are limited by migration

and a potentially unsupportive political climate.

Frontline service providers may be able to offer

support, but we know little about the relation-

ship challenges refugee couples face and how

service providers might help clients navigate

these experiences.

Method: The study team observed a refugee

women’s health promotion support group

(n=7) and conducted interviews of a purpo-

sive sample of refugee-serving social service

providers (n=16) with varying roles in the

resettlement process. Data were analyzed using

thematic analysis.

Results: Results indicate that refugee-serving

providers have opportunities to observe rela-

tionship upheaval during the resettlement

process including general disagreements and

distress, as well as the potential for conict

escalating to aggression in rare cases; in other

cases, resettlement may enable refugee couples

School of Social Work, University of Missouri, 724 Clark

Hall, Columbia, MO 65211(tlapeks@missouri.edu).

Key Words: intimate partner violence, refugee, relationship

upheaval, resettlement, transitions.

to negotiate new ways of relating to each other

in a new setting. Providersalso become involved

in clients’ relational lives and give assistance

in various ways, including educating clients

on gender norms and conict resolution; how-

ever, the levels of provider preparedness and

training vary.

Conclusion: Frontline providers are exposed

to relationship upheaval in refugee clients,

although these needs may be presented as

requests for advice on practical decisions (e.g.

childcare, bank accounts, and property owner-

ship). These decisions have important long-term

consequences not only for relational growth but

for protection against future tension; therefore,

this is a critical period for provider intervention.

Implications: Service providers in resettlement

agencies, particularly frontline workers, should

be trained to identify and respond to relationship

upheaval, including being taught to recognize

signs of abuse and being aware of options for

safety planning and professional support.

Relationship upheaval during times of change is

vital to consider, especially because of the robust

association between relationship processes and

well-being (e.g., Umberson & Montez, 2010).

Although many interpersonal vulnerabilities that

contribute to relationship upheaval are present

early in relationships (i.e., enduring dynam-

ics; Huston et al., 2001), times of transition can

intensify irritations or emotional reactivity in

exchanges between partners as individuals try to

renegotiate roles and interdependence (Solomon

et al., 2016). Refugees resettling in the United

756 Family Relations 69 (October 2020): 756–769

DOI:10.1111/fare.12468