The Role of Stable Security in Resettled Refugees' Sense of Wellbeing

We examine resettled refugees' construction of wellbeing using semi-structured interviews of Somali, Hmong, and Middle Eastern refugees in the United States and Canada. Resettled refugees' descriptions of wellbeing center 'stable security,' an enduring sense of being secure in the world and in oneself. Stable security encompasses physical, psychological, and social experiences that, together, contribute to a sustained sense of being secure. The participants also described a set of strategies to enhance stable security. We contribute to current theoretical wellbeing conceptions, provide important insights into the dynamic nature of wellbeing and elucidate the pathways identified by refugees to achieve stable security.