Cultural experiences, challenges and coping strategies of Somali refugees in Malaysia: implications for cross-cultural counseling in a plural society
Using the qualitative approach of phenomenology, this study explored the cultural adjustment experiences, challenges, and coping strategies of Somali refugees in Malaysia. Semi-structured interviews were used as the major strategy for data collection. Data were collected from 7 Somali refugees of va...
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| Format: | Proceeding Paper |
| Language: | English English English |
| Published: |
2012
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| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/28587/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/28587/1/CULTURAL_EXPERIENCES%2C_CHALLENGES_AND_COPING_STRATEGIES_OF_Refugees.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/28587/2/Padang_-_Certificate.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/28587/3/Padang_-_Program.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848779989889056768 |
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| author | Ssekamanya, Siraje Abdallah Noor , Mohamed Abdinoor |
| author_facet | Ssekamanya, Siraje Abdallah Noor , Mohamed Abdinoor |
| author_sort | Ssekamanya, Siraje Abdallah |
| building | IIUM Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Using the qualitative approach of phenomenology, this study explored the cultural adjustment experiences, challenges, and coping strategies of Somali refugees in Malaysia. Semi-structured interviews were used as the major strategy for data collection. Data were collected from 7 Somali refugees of various genders, ages, and educational backgrounds. Thematic analysis revealed six major areas of concern, that is, financial difficulties, communication barriers, inability to interact with the host community, technological difficulties, security concerns, and difficulties related to food and dress codes. Similarly, four coping skills have been found to be helpful, namely: gathering knowledge about the new culture, having previous cross-cultural experiences, financial support from family, an attitude of tolerance and patience. Support from friends and relatives and being optimistic played a major role. Implications of these findings for the development and organization of counseling services for Somali and other refugees in Malaysia are discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T15:26:32Z |
| format | Proceeding Paper |
| id | iium-28587 |
| institution | International Islamic University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English English English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T15:26:32Z |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | iium-285872013-02-13T11:35:59Z http://irep.iium.edu.my/28587/ Cultural experiences, challenges and coping strategies of Somali refugees in Malaysia: implications for cross-cultural counseling in a plural society Ssekamanya, Siraje Abdallah Noor , Mohamed Abdinoor BF636 Applied psychology L Education (General) Using the qualitative approach of phenomenology, this study explored the cultural adjustment experiences, challenges, and coping strategies of Somali refugees in Malaysia. Semi-structured interviews were used as the major strategy for data collection. Data were collected from 7 Somali refugees of various genders, ages, and educational backgrounds. Thematic analysis revealed six major areas of concern, that is, financial difficulties, communication barriers, inability to interact with the host community, technological difficulties, security concerns, and difficulties related to food and dress codes. Similarly, four coping skills have been found to be helpful, namely: gathering knowledge about the new culture, having previous cross-cultural experiences, financial support from family, an attitude of tolerance and patience. Support from friends and relatives and being optimistic played a major role. Implications of these findings for the development and organization of counseling services for Somali and other refugees in Malaysia are discussed. 2012-11-14 Proceeding Paper NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en cc_by_nd http://irep.iium.edu.my/28587/1/CULTURAL_EXPERIENCES%2C_CHALLENGES_AND_COPING_STRATEGIES_OF_Refugees.pdf application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/28587/2/Padang_-_Certificate.pdf application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/28587/3/Padang_-_Program.pdf Ssekamanya, Siraje Abdallah and Noor , Mohamed Abdinoor (2012) Cultural experiences, challenges and coping strategies of Somali refugees in Malaysia: implications for cross-cultural counseling in a plural society. In: 2nd Malindo International Counseling Conference , 13-15th November 2012, Rocky Plaza Hotel, Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia. (Unpublished) |
| spellingShingle | BF636 Applied psychology L Education (General) Ssekamanya, Siraje Abdallah Noor , Mohamed Abdinoor Cultural experiences, challenges and coping strategies of Somali refugees in Malaysia: implications for cross-cultural counseling in a plural society |
| title | Cultural experiences, challenges and coping strategies of Somali refugees in Malaysia: implications for cross-cultural counseling in a plural society |
| title_full | Cultural experiences, challenges and coping strategies of Somali refugees in Malaysia: implications for cross-cultural counseling in a plural society |
| title_fullStr | Cultural experiences, challenges and coping strategies of Somali refugees in Malaysia: implications for cross-cultural counseling in a plural society |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cultural experiences, challenges and coping strategies of Somali refugees in Malaysia: implications for cross-cultural counseling in a plural society |
| title_short | Cultural experiences, challenges and coping strategies of Somali refugees in Malaysia: implications for cross-cultural counseling in a plural society |
| title_sort | cultural experiences, challenges and coping strategies of somali refugees in malaysia: implications for cross-cultural counseling in a plural society |
| topic | BF636 Applied psychology L Education (General) |
| url | http://irep.iium.edu.my/28587/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/28587/1/CULTURAL_EXPERIENCES%2C_CHALLENGES_AND_COPING_STRATEGIES_OF_Refugees.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/28587/2/Padang_-_Certificate.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/28587/3/Padang_-_Program.pdf |