Exposure to violence in public places among youths with a refugee background and their Swedish-born peers

Abstract

Abstract Youths constitute a large proportion of forcibly displaced individuals worldwide. Although exposure to violence in countries of origin and during migration is well documented, less is known about its persistence in resettlement contexts, particularly regarding violence in public places (ViPP). This study aimed to examine youths’ perceived societal safety, exposure to ViPP in Sweden, and differences between participants with and without a refugee background. The study included 79 youths with a refugee background (M = 21.4 years, SD = 2.3, 54.4% male) and 105 Swedish-born peers (M = 21.5 years, SD = 2.4, 50.9% male). Data were collected between 2019 and 2022 using a questionnaire developed through a participatory approach. Fisher’s exact test was used for quantitative analyses, and content analysis was applied to qualitative data. A total of 33.3% reported experiences of ViPP in Sweden. Despite descriptive differences between groups, no statistically significant differences were observed in direct exposure to ViPP between participants with and without a refugee background. However, participants with a refugee background reported significantly higher levels of perceived unsafety and greater restrictions in their daily lives. Qualitative responses indicated that increased education, surveillance, and adult presence could improve public safety. These findings highlight the need to ensure the safety of youths in public places, particularly by addressing perceived unsafety among young people with a refugee background.