An exploration of the Adaptation and Development after Persecution (ADAPT) model with young adult Hazaras from refugee backgrounds in Australia.

Despite the fact that Australia has an emerging population of young adult Hazaras who arrived on humanitarian visas or who hail from a refugee background, few studies have documented their settlement experiences and psychosocial development. This study explored the resettlement experiences and adaptation of young Hazaras from refugee backgrounds. Eighteen Hazaras of refugee background, 9 males and 9 females aged 18 to 30 years (M = 22.39, SD = 3.35) who had been living in Australia for 7.17 years on average (range = 1 to 16 years), participated in a semi-structured interview based on the ADAPT model. Results demonstrated the usefulness of the ADAPT model for understanding these young people's settlement experiences in a high-income urban environment. Family, friend, and teacher attachments were important for their adaptation, highlighting the importance of promoting positive social networks for these young people. Results were also interpreted using Erikson's psychosocial stages for adolescence and young adulthood. Findings suggested that, while the young people were more focused on their future than on their past, until the psychosocial stage for adolescence is achieved, unresolved issues may continue into young adulthood. Analyses also revealed gender differences in adaptive systems and psychosocial development. Future research recommendations are made to enable the development of individualised approaches that better foster positive adaptation and psychosocial development.