'The Darkest Times Of My Life': Recollections of Child Abuse among Forced Migrants Persecuted Because of Their Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity

Numerous studies demonstrate that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) children and youth are likely to experience abuse by peers, parents, and other adults and that these experiences correlate with a host of mental health problems. However, there is little understanding of the experiences of LGBT children and youth living in countries where social and legal protections for sexual and gender minorities are limited or nonexistent. 

This qualitative study used thematic analysis to explore the child and adolescent abuse experiences and their impact on the pre-migration mental health of LGBT forced migrants. We analyzed 26 interviews with individuals who obtained refugee or asylee status in the United States or Canada on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Participants originated from countries in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. 

Analysis revealed the following themes: abuse by parents and caregivers, abuse by peers and school personnel, having nowhere to turn, and dealing with psychological distress. Findings indicate that participants experienced severe verbal, physical, and sexual abuse throughout childhood and adolescence and that this abuse occurred at home, in school, and in the community. Furthermore, there were no resources or sources of protection available to them. 

Participants linked their abuse to subjective experiences of depression, anxiety, and traumatic stress, as well as suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. We conclude with implications for refugee adjudication practices, mental health care, and international policy.

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By:  Alessi EJ1, Kahn S2, Chatterji S3.

• 1School of Social Work, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 360 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Hill Hall, Room 401, Newark, NJ 07102, USA.
• 2School of Social Work, McGill University, 3506 University Street, Room 426, Montreal, QC, Canada H3A 2A7.
• 3School of Social Work, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 536 George Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. 

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