The intersection between social relationships and policies in refugee integration: The role of emotional support

This study compares the social relationships of refugees resettled through the UK’s Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS) and Community Sponsorship (CS) programme, focusing on relationship quality, the support offered, and effects on integration. Results show that CS refugees tend to have more relationships providing emotional support, while VPRS refugees often lack such support. By introducing the concepts of ‘helpful’ and ‘caring’ relationships, this study distinguishes between practical help and emotional support, highlighting factors like intimacy and frequent contact. Findings suggest that emotional support in CS networks enhances refugees’ confidence and comfort, facilitates engagement with the broader community, and boosts their ability to reciprocate. This study provides a nuanced understanding of how social relationships, individual factors, and refugee-integration-opportunity structures intersect to shape integration, emphasizing the crucial role of emotional support in facilitating integration.