Young students with a refugee background in primary education: Psychological well-being and second language learning

In a world where migration and displacement continue to shape the lives of young refugees, integrating these children into host societies is more crucial than ever. Schools play a vital role, particularly in supporting the psychological well-being and language development of refugee children. This dissertation examines the experiences of 4- to 8-year-old refugee students in the Netherlands, focusing on their well-being and its relation to proficiency in Dutch, the host country language.

The research shows that while refugee children exhibit higher levels of trauma-related behaviors than their non-refugee peers, the situation is not as gloomy as one might fear. Many refugee students do not display increased trauma-related behavior in the classroom. However, these children often lack protective factors—such as friendships, positive school interactions, positive self-esteem and a stable and predictable everyday life—which are essential for reducing the risk of long-term trauma. The numerous relocations of refugees make that students have to re-start over and over again, which may be a reason for less developed protective factors, as they need to find their place again in each new place and school.

The dissertation also explores the complex relationship between trauma-related well-being and language learning, suggesting that students with very high stress levels or few protective factors tend to struggle most with learning Dutch. This highlights the importance of trauma-informed teaching, where addressing psychological well-being is prioritized alongside language learning.

To support these students, the dissertation introduces tools like the RaPTOSS instrument for monitoring trauma-related well-being and digital dual-language storybooks that incorporate students’ home languages. This work emphasizes the need to address well-being, trauma, and language learning as interconnected elements in refugee education, offering valuable insights for better supporting these students' integration and success.