Kassandra Birchler in the Lancet: A Call For Parenting Interventions For Refugee Mothers With Children Younger Than 3 Years

August 3, 2017

“According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, more than 21 million people are refugees worldwide, over half of whom are younger than 18 years. Refugees experience severe stress, and stressors can have particularly detrimental effects during early childhood when the developing brain is very sensitive to environmental influences.1 During this period, parental buffering—the reduction of stress physiology as a result of parental presence—is especially important.1 Unfortunately, even the most caring refugee parents face a series of adversities during the resettlement process that might restrict their ability to nurture their children, such as low income, culture shock, and discrimination.”

Read the entire article here