Exploring Parenting Narratives in Asylum Seeking Populations in Sweden: Examining the Effect of Post-Migration Stress on Families through Grounded Theory

Abstract Empirical evidence shows that asylum seekers experience a range of stressors in a post-migration context that can contribute to poor mental health. Few studies have considered how post-migration stressors affect the family unit, specifically with a focus on parenting and child outcomes. In 2018 and 2019, interviews were conducted with asylum seeking parents (27 families) in a small community in Sweden. A grounded theory research design approach found an overarching category of lack of agency amongst parents which linked with three subcategories; a new normal, managing official processes and poor physical and mental health. Within each subcategory, the role of parenting was examined. Parents living through the asylum seeking process reported experiencing few rights, concerns about housing and money, as well as a constant fear of being repatriated, and these factors contributed to a deterioration in both their own as well as their children’s mental health. Implications and suggestions for future studies are included.