Character Strengths as Coping Strategies for Daily Challenges: A Qualitative Study Among Adult Refugees

Character strengths are positive traits and qualities that are an integral part of an individual's personality. These strengths can function as protective factors against mental disorders by providing traumatized refugees with resources and tools to cope with stressors and daily challenges. The purpose of the current study was to explore the role of character strengths of refugees in the Netherlands in their problem-focused and/or emotional-focused coping strategies to deal with daily challenges. We interviewed 26 refugees who attained a temporary asylum residence permit and who lived in an asylum seeker center (AZC) or a municipality in the Netherlands. Qualitative data analyses yielded five key character strengths, namely self-regulation, perseverance, gratitude, love of learning, and hope. Patience and adaptability were two additional strengths that function as specific self-regulation techniques. Our findings also suggest a shift from emotion-focused coping strategies during the stay at an asylum seeker center towards problem-focused coping when living in a municipality. Depending on the migration phase in which refugees find themselves, they apply different character strengths in relation to emotion-focused or problem-focused coping strategies. Interventions that aim to increase the well-being of refugees and contribute to successful integration into society should consider relevant contextual factors, in addition to cultural factors.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41042-024-00211-z.