| Study ID | 10 |
| Study title | Engendering Forced Migration, Socio-political Transition and Mental Health in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo |
| Study language | English |
| Institution(s) | Foundation for Women’s Empowerment Bosnia and Herzegovina – FWE,
Čekaluša br.16, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (a) Group 484, Pukovnika Bacića 3, 11040 Belgrade, Serbia (b) Balkan Policy Institute – IPOL, 10000 Prishtinë, Kosovo (c) |
| Authors | Selma Porobić (PI) Siniša Volarević Seb Bytyci |
| Disciplines | Anthropology Sociology Psychology Social psychology Social policy Ethnology Social work |
| Period | 1990-2014 |
| Geographical space | Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo |
| Abstract | By means of the empirical cross-case analysis (mixed-methods approach) in Bosnia, Serbia and Kosovo, this project addresses the following research questions: How does the experience of inter-ethnic violence, large scale war displacement and protracted transitioning affect the psycho-social health of women forced-migrants in each of the three environments? What is the state of their psycho-social well-being including both distress and resilience factors in these challenging social environments? What is the nature of the psycho-social support, public and non-governmental, formal and informal, provided to this population? What should be done to address the psycho-social needs identified among this population, and to fill the gaps in the existing policies and programmes? Which good practices (if any) could authorities and different national, regional and international stakeholders take on to improve the access to and the practice of psycho-social services to women forced- migrants in these three countries? The main objectives were A)To map out the psycho-social health of women forced migrants, including the weaknesses and strengths of their psycho-social functioning, by focusing on different categories in each country of research – returnees in BiH and Kosovo; displaced persons and refugees in BiH; in Kosovo and Serbia; B) To identify the resources of the centers for social work, mental health centers, NGOs and other agencies involved in prevention work and promotion of mental health, and in the provision of psycho-social services; C) To exchange micro data and conduct a comparative analysis relevant to the regional macro level, regarding the state of psycho-social health among women forcedmigrants; D) To produce recommendations regarding best practices. |
| Results | Psychometric study: Healthy population and high degree of psychosocial wellbeing. Level of education and salary correlate produces most differences in results / Higher education lower pathogenic and higer salutogenic scores. Having salary better health. Ethnographic study: Achieved integration level of forced migrant women with important role of traditional patriarchic social networks causing both stress in not meeting the expected gender roles and values, and at the same time buffering against the environmental stresses, in particular unemployment and low social status and income. Life History Interviews point to avoidant coping and traditional gender roles, surpassed traumas and poor living conditions, at the same time strong coping resources in focusing on future through children, faith and family-centric life. Focus Group and policy Study: No specific service provision nor legal protection granted to researched categories from 1990s onward due to stigma, yet need for specialized care well recognized and recommended by health care professionals. Regional informative, capacity building and educational centre will be advocated in a policy brief. |
| Method description | • Desk based research (overview of legal and policy
framework) • Psychometric study • Focus groups • Ethnography with Participatory observation • Life history Interviews |
| Publications | Porobić, Selma; Petrović, Jagoda; Volarević, Siniša; Ćirić, Danica; Gashi, Enver. 2016. Engendering Forced Migration, Socio-political Transition and Mental Health in BiH, Serbia and Kosovo. Clearing the path to wellbeing: Improving provision of psychosocial services for forced migrant women in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Kosovo’, Policy Brief. Foundation for Women’s Empowerment. Online: http://www.rrpp-efm.net/images/doc/Policy-brief_EFM.pdf Hasanagić, A.; Draganović, S.; Bosankić, N.; Porobić, Selma. 2016. Provjera metrijskih karakteristika i faktorska analiza skale socijalne podrške SS-A u Empirijska Istraživanja u psihologiji. Zbornik radova sa 22 naučnog skupa. Filozofski fakultet u Beogradu, Insitut za psihologiju, Filozofski fakultet u Beogradu, Univerzitet u Beogradu, Beograd. Porobić, Selma; Blitz, B.. 2017. Long-term effects of forced migration in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo – Gender perspective of Psychosocial Wellbeing. Edward Elgar Academic Publishing, UK. Porobić, Selma. 2016. Rodna studija prisilne migracije i dobrostanja u Bosni I Hercegovini. Fondacija za osnaživanje žena BiH. ISBN:992-681-201-5. |
| Secondary analyses | None |
| Study type | Mandated research |
| Financed by | Mandating institution |
| Mandating institution(s) | – |
| Progress | Finished |
| Start – end date | 01.01.2014 – 31.08.2016 |
| Data type | Quantitative data |
| Media | Digitalized data file |
| Available document types | Syntax file Collection instruments Publications (final report, articles) |
| Linked to | Dataset 10_01 – BiH_KO_Engendering Forced Migration; Dataset 10_02 – SRB_Engendering Forced Migration |
| Remarks | Data for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo is in Bosnian. Data for Serbia is in Serbian. |
| Analysis unit | Individual |
| Mode of data collection | Face-to-face interview (CAPI, CAMI, PAPI, etc.) |
| Data collection instruments | Questionnaire Test |
| Number of cases | 355 from BiH (125 were in control and 230 in experimental group), psychometric surveys in 12 chosen IDP, refugee and returnee locations in each country, including collective centers. 250 participants from Kosovo from 12 chosen IDP, refugee and returnee locations in each country, including collective centers. 250 from Serbia from 12 chosen IDP, refugee and returnee locations in each country, including collective centers. |
| Sampling description | Convenient sample. |
| Available versions | 1.0 |
| Bibliographical citation | Selma Porobić, Siniša Volarević, Seb Bytyci: Engendering Forced Migration, Socio-political Transition and Mental Health in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo, 2014 [Dataset]. Foundation for Women’s Empowerment Bosnia and Herzegovina – FWE, Group 484, Balkan Policy Institute – IPOL. Distributed by DASS-BiH, Sarajevo. |
| Access category | Restricted |
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