Examining the Experiences of Newcomer Youth Participating in the Supporting Transition Resilience of Newcomer Groups (STRONG) Intervention

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Saltzman_Michelle_MA_2025_Thesis.pdf (1.53 MB)

Date

2025-08-18

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Abstract

Newcomer youth encounter multifaceted stressors across all phases of migration, placing them at heightened risk for psychological distress. While they display high resilience, culturally responsive, strengths-based interventions are essential to support their adjustment. The Supporting Transition Resilience of Newcomer Groups (STRONG) is a manualized group-based intervention designed to enhance coping, resilience, and well-being. This qualitative study explored the experiences and recommendations of 22 youth who participated in STRONG in school and community settings. Using four semi-structured focus groups and reflexive thematic analysis, eight themes emerged: (1) Gained Coping and Relaxation Skills, (2) Varied Emotional Experiences, (3) Reflections on Program Structure and Content, (4) Mixed Experiences Sharing Personal Journey Narratives, (5) Opportunity for Social Connections, (6) Refining Program Structure and Delivery, (7) Expanding Program Opportunities, and (8) Program Endorsement. Findings highlight the value of youth-informed evaluation and the need for trauma-informed and culturally responsive programming to support newcomer youth mental health.

Summary for Lay Audience

In recent years, Canada has welcomed a growing number of immigrant and refugee families. Many of these families, especially those with refugee backgrounds, frequently face challenges before, during, and after migration that can significantly affect their mental health and overall adjustment. These challenges include exposure to war, trauma, discrimination, and social exclusion. While newcomer youth are recognized in research for their resilience, they remain at an increased risk for experiencing mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. To support their well-being and transition to Canada, the Supporting Transition Resilience of Newcomer Groups (STRONG) program was developed. STRONG is a group-based intervention that teaches youth how to cope with stress, solve problems, and strengthen their resilience. The current study examined the experiences and recommendations of 22 newcomer youth who participated in the STRONG intervention in schools or community settings. Four focus groups were conducted and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis guide to identify recurring themes across the groups. Findings revealed a high level of program acceptability, with newcomer youth describing STRONG as a supportive and meaningful program that helped them build coping skills, enhance emotional well-being, and foster a greater sense of connection with others. Youth provided several recommendations to improve the intervention including adding more engaging activities, offering more support for building connections and refining the program’s structure and delivery. Overall, youth expressed that they would recommend the STRONG program to other newcomer youth as a valuable resource for learning coping skills and building social connections. These findings highlight the importance of youth involvement in evaluating interventions and will inform enhancements to the STRONG program to more effectively support newcomer youth in navigating and adjusting to life in Canada.

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Keywords

newcomer, youth, resilience, STRONG intervention, migration stressors, trauma- informed, strength-based, psychosocial support, coping skills, mental health

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/38585

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