Understanding Refugee Adolescents' Occupational Participation Challenges Through the Kawa Model: A Thematic Analysis.

Importance: Refugee adolescents face significant barriers to daily participation, including economic hardships, health concerns, trauma, and social isolation. Objective: To explore occupational performance and the participation challenges of refugee adolescents at a youth center, using the Kawa mode...

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Publicado en:American Journal of Occupational Therapy Vol. 80; no. 3; pp. 1 - 12
Autores principales: Sağlamoğlu, Emine, Abaoğlu, Hatice
Formato: pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: American Occupational Therapy Association May/Jun2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: May/Jun2026
      vid: 80
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        atl: Understanding Refugee Adolescents' Occupational Participation Challenges Through the Kawa Model: A Thematic Analysis.
      aug:
        au:
          Sağlamoğlu, Emine
          Abaoğlu, Hatice
        affil: Research Assistant, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Occupational Therapy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
      sug:
        subj:
          Refugees Psychosocial Factors
          Occupational Therapy
          Activities of Daily Living
          Models, Theoretical Utilization
          Social Participation
          Human
          Turkiye
          Male
          Female
          Child
          Adolescence
          Purposive Sample
          Qualitative Studies
          Phenomenological Research
          Semi-Structured Interview
          Audiorecording
          Thematic Analysis
          Financial Stress
          Life Experiences
          Safety
          Family Relations
          Hope
          Social Isolation
          Stress, Psychological
          Discrimination
          Caregiver Burden
          Hardiness
          Leisure Activities
          Housing
          Child: 6-12 years
          Adolescent: 13-18 years
          Male
          Female
      ab: Importance: Refugee adolescents face significant barriers to daily participation, including economic hardships, health concerns, trauma, and social isolation. Objective: To explore occupational performance and the participation challenges of refugee adolescents at a youth center, using the Kawa model. Design: Qualitative, phenomenological study using semistructured interviews and Kawa model-based visual activities. The thematic analysis was guided by Braun and Clarke's framework. Setting: Ankara Altındağ Youth Center in Ankara, Turkey. Participants: Twelve refugee adolescents (ages 10–18 yr). Participants resided in Turkey for at least 6 mo and were purposively sampled for diversity. Outcomes and Measures: Challenges and facilitators to occupational performance and participation were explored. Results: Five main themes emerged: economic hardships and survival struggles, health and safety for a secure future, seeking a new life in the shadow of war, family ties between support and burden, and hopes for the future shaped by the flow of life. Conclusions and Relevance: The Kawa model effectively illuminated the complex factors that influence the lives of refugee adolescents. Findings highlight the need for culturally sensitive, holistic occupational therapy interventions addressing both barriers and facilitators to participation. Plain-Language Summary: Using the Kawa model, this study explored the daily life challenges and hopes of refugee adolescents in Turkey. Financial issues, health and safety concerns, and past trauma were identified as major obstacles, or "rocks in their life river." Strong family ties functioned as supportive "river walls," whereas the educational journey and hopes for the future were seen as "driftwood" and "open spaces" for progress. Occupational therapy should address both difficulties and strengths to help these young people thrive. Positionality Statement: At the time of the study, the lead author (Emine Sağlamoğlu) was a research assistant and occupational therapist with experience working with disadvantaged youths. The second author (Hatice Abaoğlu) was an associate professor specializing in mental health and qualitative research. The multidisciplinary research team, possessing expertise in participation problems and occupational performance, conducted all interviews. A researcher with 10 yr of occupational therapy experience finalized the interview questions. Using the Kawa model, this study explored the daily life challenges and hopes of refugee adolescents in Turkey.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        pictorial
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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