Lost in Time: A Qualitative Study on the Long Waiting Time in the Asylum System and its Effects on the Social Integration of Refugees in Sweden

Abstract This research investigates the effects long asylum procedures have on young adult refugees and their integration process. The aim is to uncover through conducting interviews with individuals their views and experiences regarding their own integration. The participants who were chosen fit the description of having been in the asylum procedure for more the 3 years. The research was carried out in 10 weeks and utilized by the use of qualitative methods and the use of interviews. The findings have shown that the effects of the long wait on young adults have both negative as well as positive impacts. Negative in terms of restricting the individuals’ further involvement in society and their self-improvement. Another negativity is the more they wait the less motivated they get to integrate and the fewer chances they have in the labor market. Positive in terms of the longer they wait the more they are integrated when it comes to their language and the norms in the society. These results contribute to the understanding of the effects of long waiting times on young adults which is a topic that has not been researched enough. Previous research has covered the effects of long waits on refugees with a focus on the job market and language integration. However, young adults who have mastered the Swedish language and have already integrated in some ways have been ignored. This research aims to fill this gap. This study implements the theories of Antonovsky’s Sense of Coherence (1989) and Giddens’ Ontological Security (1984) to further make sense of the stories provided by the participants and to find out the link between their integration and the long wait.