| Abstract: | Refugees who are resettled in third countries may be at greater risk of experiencing identity problems, such as identity distress, crisis, and its resolution, than are their nonrefugee, nonimmigrant peers. A multidimensional approach was employed to explore the identity (re)formation and resolution of 50 Karen refugees who were resettled in London, Ontario, Canada. Problematic identity processes in social, personal, and ego domains of identity were examined. Fifty nonrefugee Canadians served as comparisons. The findings revealed that the resettlement process impaired the sense of temporal sameness and continuity, promoted confusion and crisis in identity, prolonged identity resolution, and stimulated distress concerning social and personal identity issues (work, career, values, group loyalties) for the refugees who participated in this study. |
