Resilience amidst adversity: exploring the psychological resilience of refugee minors in Greece

Abstract

This study explores how psychologists working with refugee minors in Greece understand these children’s psychological strengths and the processes which support their resilience. By shifting the focus from vulnerability to strength, the research aims to offer culturally informed and more nuanced strategies for the provision of psychosocial support to displaced children. A qualitative approach was used to capture the complexity of individual experiences and the context in which they occur. A convenience and snowball sampling was used to select 10 psychologists. Online and in person semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using the Braun and Clarke (2006) Thematic Analysis framework. The approach thus enabled the identification of recurrent patterns across emotional, cultural, and relational domains. The findings show that refugee minors demonstrate important psychological capacities, including adaptability, emotional endurance, and creative coping. Protective factors included faith, a sense of future orientation, and openness in relationships, while coping mechanisms were expressed through narrative and symbolic forms, structured routines, and spiritual practices. External support systems, such as emotionally available caregivers, inclusive school settings, and culturally sensitive community services, also played a significant role in fostering psychological strength. Overall, the study highlights resilience in refugee minors as a relational, context-dependent, and dynamic process.