Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SC-SD4ASA (Interventional Guideline on Self-Care/Self-Development for Asylum-Seeking Adolescents: A Step Forward to a Sustainable Emotional and Behavioural Health)
Berichtszeitraum: 2020-10-01 bis 2022-09-30
From 2015 to 2016, about 1. 3 million refugees arrived in Europe. Half of them were children under the age of 18. The combination of (specially forced) migration and adolescence increase the risk of psychological problems among refugees including asylum-seeking children and adolescents. Therefore, along with the significant increase in the number of refugees, investigating effective ways to improve their health status has grown.
This project aimed to improve self-care and self-development among asylum-seeking/refugee adolescents aged 15–18. With the long-term goal of improving wellbeing and quality of life, this multi-method study aimed to develop a self-care and self-development intervention guidebook for asylum-seeking adolescents. The SC-SD4ASA project mainly focused on three specific objectives/ work package: 1. assessment of needs and knowledge concerning self-care and self-development; 2. development of a guidebook to promote self-care and self-development for asylum-seeking adolescents; and 3. assessment of the guidebook fidelity, reliability, and validity.
Empowering asylum-seeking adolescents with self-care /self-development skills can help them to sustain their wellbeing and better manage the challenges in their new situation. Successfully implemented, the guidebook is developed to support all individuals involved in planning, managing, and promoting health among asylum-seeking adolescents that can be used for future self-care/self-development programs in practice.
This project aimed to improve self-care and self-development among asylum-seeking/refugee adolescents aged 15–18. With the long-term goal of improving wellbeing and quality of life, this multi-method study aimed to develop a self-care and self-development intervention guidebook for asylum-seeking adolescents. The SC-SD4ASA project mainly focused on three specific objectives/ work package: 1. assessment of needs and knowledge concerning self-care and self-development; 2. development of a guidebook to promote self-care and self-development for asylum-seeking adolescents; and 3. assessment of the guidebook fidelity, reliability, and validity.
Empowering asylum-seeking adolescents with self-care /self-development skills can help them to sustain their wellbeing and better manage the challenges in their new situation. Successfully implemented, the guidebook is developed to support all individuals involved in planning, managing, and promoting health among asylum-seeking adolescents that can be used for future self-care/self-development programs in practice.
For the first work package (conducted from August to December 2021 in Germany), an intra-triangulation approach including three qualitative methods [in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and photographic means (photovoice/photo-elicitation)] were used. The collected data from in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were analyzed using cross-cultural and multilingual approach to thematic analysis, known as meta-theme analysis. For the virtual data, using a semi-structured qualitative questionnaire, the study participants were enabled to individually explain their own thoughts through their captured photos, evading perceived demand characteristics of the community group. However, for having a richer dataset thorough a “group perspective”, participants discussed the photos taken by others using photo-elicitation method.
For the photo-election part, the adolescents discussed the photos collected by the research team from the other participants, without knowing the photographer. The finding provided lots of new information and data related to the SC/SD’s knowledge, attitude and practice among the target group. Moreover, the participants explained their ideas and suggestions about how the guidebook should be develops to be more practical and attractive. The results of the first stage were utilized for developing the guidebook in the second (main) work package. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of this intervention approach, the evolutionary process involved a panel of related experts such as psychologists, behavioral consultants, teachers, social workers, etc. The final version of the guidebook is in form of a personal journal and activity book, which is aimed at increasing its target group’s knowledge about the concept of self-care/self-development and helping them to have a more healthy and effective routine on the pathway to a successful adulthood. The journal tries to help its readers to figure out how to reach their self-care/self-development goals, whatever they are, and how to document their accomplishments and provides the possibility of self-assessment and record the month-to-month improvement. All the images in the guidebook were drawn by two refugee adolescents, voluntary. It includes 2 main chapters: Chapter 1: Preface; General information as the introduction; and the detailed description of the different parts and activities in the second chapter and how to use the journal. Chapter 2: Divided into 12 sections, each representing a month of year, all the 12 sections follow a same pattern to help user practicing “routine” including Monthly SC/SD planner, Habit tacker (with the follow-up practice), Articles/activities related to SC/SD (SC/SD in uncertainty, problem-solving, goal-setting, mind mapping, intuitive painting, Heathy lifestyle and more), Mood tracker (with the follow-up practice), Self-awareness practices, Coloring page, Monthly review, and Notes. The soft copy of the guidebook is assessable for the public (Identifier: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/BW9AQ)
Regarding to the third work package, The SC-SD4ASA fidelity was controlled continuously based on the National Institutes of Health Behavior Change Consortium (NIH BCC) fidelity framework in the duration of the project and after completing the final draft of the guidebook. In addition, to assess the guidebook’s content validity, the Content Validity Index (CVI) approach was used. In this regard, the guidebook was reviewed by a panel of 12 academic and non-academic experts in children and adolescent psychiatry and psychology, children and adolescent education, and community health. According to the literatures, the minimum I-CVI of 0.77 (for 6 to 10 experts) and the minimum S-CVI of 0.90 are requested for an excellent content validity (values range is from 0 to 1). The results should a very high validity (I-CVI= max 1.00 , min 0.88 and S-CVI=0.97).
For the photo-election part, the adolescents discussed the photos collected by the research team from the other participants, without knowing the photographer. The finding provided lots of new information and data related to the SC/SD’s knowledge, attitude and practice among the target group. Moreover, the participants explained their ideas and suggestions about how the guidebook should be develops to be more practical and attractive. The results of the first stage were utilized for developing the guidebook in the second (main) work package. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of this intervention approach, the evolutionary process involved a panel of related experts such as psychologists, behavioral consultants, teachers, social workers, etc. The final version of the guidebook is in form of a personal journal and activity book, which is aimed at increasing its target group’s knowledge about the concept of self-care/self-development and helping them to have a more healthy and effective routine on the pathway to a successful adulthood. The journal tries to help its readers to figure out how to reach their self-care/self-development goals, whatever they are, and how to document their accomplishments and provides the possibility of self-assessment and record the month-to-month improvement. All the images in the guidebook were drawn by two refugee adolescents, voluntary. It includes 2 main chapters: Chapter 1: Preface; General information as the introduction; and the detailed description of the different parts and activities in the second chapter and how to use the journal. Chapter 2: Divided into 12 sections, each representing a month of year, all the 12 sections follow a same pattern to help user practicing “routine” including Monthly SC/SD planner, Habit tacker (with the follow-up practice), Articles/activities related to SC/SD (SC/SD in uncertainty, problem-solving, goal-setting, mind mapping, intuitive painting, Heathy lifestyle and more), Mood tracker (with the follow-up practice), Self-awareness practices, Coloring page, Monthly review, and Notes. The soft copy of the guidebook is assessable for the public (Identifier: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/BW9AQ)
Regarding to the third work package, The SC-SD4ASA fidelity was controlled continuously based on the National Institutes of Health Behavior Change Consortium (NIH BCC) fidelity framework in the duration of the project and after completing the final draft of the guidebook. In addition, to assess the guidebook’s content validity, the Content Validity Index (CVI) approach was used. In this regard, the guidebook was reviewed by a panel of 12 academic and non-academic experts in children and adolescent psychiatry and psychology, children and adolescent education, and community health. According to the literatures, the minimum I-CVI of 0.77 (for 6 to 10 experts) and the minimum S-CVI of 0.90 are requested for an excellent content validity (values range is from 0 to 1). The results should a very high validity (I-CVI= max 1.00 , min 0.88 and S-CVI=0.97).
of the project so far)
The SC-SD4ASA project relates with a novel approach regarding asylum-seeking adolescents’ wellbeing by addressing one of the most important concerns of organizations and host countries involved in refugee affairs: improving mental and behavioral health among the target group. Finalizing this guidebook can be a significant step forward to allow refugee and asylum-seeking adolescents to take control over their lives and gain access to broadened abilities needed in the pathway to successful adulthood. Although the study will be conducted in Germany, it will be designed to be adjustable and have the potential to be used in other host countries. The final outcomes of the SC-SD4ASA study can be a starting point for further research, especially concerning the impact of the designed intervention on adolescents.
The SC-SD4ASA project relates with a novel approach regarding asylum-seeking adolescents’ wellbeing by addressing one of the most important concerns of organizations and host countries involved in refugee affairs: improving mental and behavioral health among the target group. Finalizing this guidebook can be a significant step forward to allow refugee and asylum-seeking adolescents to take control over their lives and gain access to broadened abilities needed in the pathway to successful adulthood. Although the study will be conducted in Germany, it will be designed to be adjustable and have the potential to be used in other host countries. The final outcomes of the SC-SD4ASA study can be a starting point for further research, especially concerning the impact of the designed intervention on adolescents.