An explorative study of resilience among internally displaced Sudanese youth

Abstract

Resilience is a construct commonly cited by humanitarian and disaster management establishments. Despite the construct’s centuries-old multidisciplinary evolution and interpretations, our current perception of resilience is largely informed by Western research. This study sought to contribute to our understanding of resilience by exploring its manifestation in a non-Western society. The study focused on a group of internally displaced youth in Sudan who have experienced political violence and/or natural hazards. Interpretations of resilience from the literature on Disaster and Emergency Management and Developmental Psychology were reviewed and explored. The study employed a generic qualitative research design that included semi-structured interviews with 6 internally displaced participants. Thematic Analysis was the method used for data analysis. Three interrelated umbrella themes were generated and discussed. Findings supported cited resilience frameworks and revealed resilient behaviours that pivoted on two factors, (1) individual attributes, and (2) social resources. Keywords: Resilience, Sudan, internal displacement, coping mechanisms, religiosity, access to resources, political violence, complex emergency, complex disaster