The Role of Friendship in Refugee Resettlement

In the landscape of displacement and resettlement, friendships often emerge as a stabilizing force—particularly when ties to family are fractured or distant. For many refugees, these relationships become something more than friendship: they become a surrogate family.

This shift is not only emotional but practical. Friends may be the ones who explain how to navigate a new transit system, accompany someone to their first job interview, or help interpret a letter from immigration services. In this way, friendships serve not only as emotional anchors but also as critical guides through the complexities of settlement (Vera Espinoza et al., 2025).

The role of friendship varies across cultures. In collectivist traditions, friendship is often embedded in community networks and shaped by values of loyalty, mutual responsibility, and care. For young people from these cultures, being able to retain and express heritage values within peer relationships can foster a stronger sense of identity and resilience (Keles & Oppedal, 2022). These dynamics can be particularly important for unaccompanied minors or youth navigating bicultural identities.

Importantly, adult friendships are just as vital. For single adults, elders, or those estranged from their families, friends may become the primary relational support. Intergenerational friendships—such as those between younger people and older mentors—can also offer meaningful connection and restore a sense of rootedness.

Of course, friendship formation does not happen in a vacuum. The broader system—schools, workplaces, housing policies—can either support or hinder these relationships. Inclusive environments, peer mentorship programs, and culturally safe spaces can make a difference. Conversely, xenophobia, language segregation, and institutional retraumatization can stifle connection and deepen isolation (Low & Shah, 2023; Bergnehr, 2020).

Clinicians can play a pivotal role in recognizing and supporting these bonds. Therapy may serve as a temporary relational anchor, especially for those who feel profoundly alone. But fostering and affirming friendship outside of therapy helps avoid over-reliance on the clinical relationship and honors the agency and relational capacity of refugee clients.

In a world where so many supports are formalized, measured, or conditional, friendships offer something vital: mutuality, choice, and a space to belong. Recognizing friendship as a key site of resilience helps expand our understanding of healing beyond family structures and into the rich, complex terrain of human connection.