Publications
The convoluted experiences of young Nigerian victims of trafficking along their migration trajectories Ghent University
On the road to mental health : sources of support amidst stressful experiences in the lives of unaccompanied refugee minors Ghent University
Social determinants of the mental health of young migrants Ghent University KU Leuven
Background: Young migrants face particular risks to develop mental health problems. Discrimination and social support impact mental health, yet little is known about the differential impact thereof on mental health in newcomers, non-newcomer migrants, and non-migrants. Aim: This study sheds light on mental health (posttraumatic stress, behavioral problems, hyperactivity, emotional distress, peer relationship problems, prosocial behavior) and the ...
Meanings attached to intergenerational language shift processes in the context of migrant families Ghent University
In most migrant families, a language shift from the heritage language(s) to the dominant language takes place over generations. This shift is influenced by different factors, among which the political and societal pressure to use the mainstream language. The consequences for intergenerational family relations remain understudied. This article sheds light on how families navigate this language shift through eight three-generation family ...
Traumatic events, daily stressors and posttraumatic stress in unaccompanied young refugees during their flight : a longitudinal cross-country study Ghent University
Background Unaccompanied young refugees constitute an especially vulnerable population, reporting high rates of trauma and mental health problems. There is a significant gap in the literature on trauma and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in unaccompanied young refugees who are still on the move and live in precarious circumstances such as refugee camps. This study therefore aimed to contribute to this gap by investigating pre- and ...
'They now know that they are children of war' : forcibly abducted mothers and fathers balancing disclosure and silencing to their children born of war in northern Uganda Ghent University
In recent years, scholars have emphasized the need for a relational understanding of the impact of collective violence pointing to the myriad interconnections between individual and communal experiences and consequences. These interconnections are particularly strong in the (re)integration of formerly abducted children and youth, and their children born of war, since various social, relational and cultural processes play a key role in their ...
'Let them make it rain and bling' : unveiling community expectations towards returned migrants in Cameroon Ghent University
In Africa, international migration to the Global North is often interpreted as a means to achieve upward social mobility. This article highlights the importance of considering the socio-economic and political transformations that form migration aspirations, especially among African youths. Simultaneously, increasing restrictive migration regimes impacts the extent to which migrants can meet the clauses in the moral economy of migration in their ...
Separating newcomers : pragmatism or ideology? SchoolsU+2019 responses to newly arrived migrants in Flanders Ghent University
This paper focusses on the organisational responses of secondary schools to newly arrived migrant students. In Flanders (the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium), as in many other European regions, newly arrived students are placed in segregated classes that aim to prepare them for integration in mainstream education. Deriving from, on the one hand, academic critiques on the principle of segregated classes and, on the other hand, the autonomy that ...