Struggles and solutions in psychological research with unaccompanied minors: Reflections from the field

IF 3.4 3区 心理学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL
Dafne Morroni , Eleonora Charalambous , Maria Karekla
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

In 2022, 22,182 individuals applied for asylum in Cyprus, of whom 941 were Unaccompanied Minors (UM).

Objectives

A cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) examining Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with UM was carried out in shelters in Cyprus. The purpose of this paper is to present struggles and solutions from the RCT and to provide recommendations to clinicians and researchers working with UM.

Method

Obstacles faced in setting up the study and throughout research with UM were recorded systematically and resolved in team meetings. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) was applied to present the struggles and solutions.

Results

Akin to established literature, the authors faced several challenges including: UM hesitancy regarding written consent, language and cultural barriers, interpreter bias, difficulties engaging social workers, demanding circumstances in shelters and methodological issues concerning collection of quantitative self-report measures. Solutions included: replacing written consent with child assent, cultural and language adaptation required with material provided in booklets, providing psychoeducation to interpreters prior to an intervention, training social workers in the treatment protocol, building rapport with shelter staff, using tablets for data collection and shorter battery of questionnaires.

Conclusions

It is evident that carrying out research in refugee settings requires flexibility and adaptability. Findings from this study inform future intervention efforts and provide both researchers and clinicians with a framework to guide and support their work.
心理学研究中无人陪伴未成年人的挣扎与解决:来自该领域的反思
2022年,有22182人在塞浦路斯申请庇护,其中941人为无人陪伴的未成年人。目的在塞浦路斯的收容所进行了一项随机对照试验(RCT),研究了UM的接受和承诺治疗。本文的目的是介绍RCT的困难和解决方案,并为临床医生和研究人员提供与UM合作的建议。方法系统地记录在研究开始和整个研究过程中遇到的障碍,并在小组会议上解决。应用了实施研究综合框架(CFIR)来提出斗争和解决办法。结果与已有文献类似,作者面临着一些挑战,包括:UM对书面同意的犹豫,语言和文化障碍,翻译偏见,与社会工作者接触的困难,收容所的苛刻环境以及收集定量自我报告措施的方法问题。解决办法包括:用儿童同意取代书面同意,用小册子提供的材料适应所需的文化和语言,在干预之前向口译人员提供心理教育,培训社会工作者了解治疗方案,与收容所工作人员建立融洽关系,使用平板电脑收集数据,缩短调查问卷。结论在难民环境中开展研究显然需要灵活性和适应性。这项研究的发现为未来的干预工作提供了信息,并为研究人员和临床医生提供了指导和支持他们工作的框架。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
8.50
自引率
18.00%
发文量
82
审稿时长
61 days
期刊介绍: The Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science is the official journal of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS). Contextual Behavioral Science is a systematic and pragmatic approach to the understanding of behavior, the solution of human problems, and the promotion of human growth and development. Contextual Behavioral Science uses functional principles and theories to analyze and modify action embedded in its historical and situational context. The goal is to predict and influence behavior, with precision, scope, and depth, across all behavioral domains and all levels of analysis, so as to help create a behavioral science that is more adequate to the challenge of the human condition.
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