A grounded theory exploration of wellbeing and liveable space for Uganda-based forced migrant women, forcibly displaced due to conflict

Harrison, Helen and Berragan, Elizabeth ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3345-6341 (2025) A grounded theory exploration of wellbeing and liveable space for Uganda-based forced migrant women, forcibly displaced due to conflict. International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care. pp. 1-18. doi:10.1108/IJMHSC-02-2025-0010 (In Press)

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Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to conduct a grounded theory exploration of wellbeing for women forcibly displaced by war, and focussing on the experiences of two groups of women living in settlement communities in Uganda. Original key questions included how the women experience and perceive wellbeing within their life context and what can be learnt from female displaced participants in the global south relating to gendered perspectives of wellbeing and liveable space. However, having adopted a grounded theory approach, the study findings were not fully synchronised with these questions, but instead represented the issues within this substantive area that were most important to the participants. Design/methodology/approach The methodology used is the constructive grounded theory combined with a feminist standpoint, using unstructured in-person interviews as the data collection technique. The participants are South Sudanese refugee women living in Palabek refugee settlement in northern Uganda and internally displaced Acholi women living in an informal settlement in Kampala. Findings The theoretical code is “reimagining liveable space over time”, with key categories of wellbeing, liveableness, temporariness and community. The final outcome is an emergent theory grounded in the data that gives a voice to women who represent those experiencing marginalisation and subjugation, both within their communities, and due to the positioning of those communities within the international hierarchy. Originality/value This research is an innovative and novel piece that weaves together feminist standpoint grounded theory with other key theoretical paradigms and demonstrates how the research can hold its own within a greater body of study. It also has its uniqueness in the way that it draws the four categories together and demonstrates their important relationship to each other in a relevant and pertinent way. Given the current global landscape of displacement, with record numbers of people being forcibly displaced worldwide, this work is particularly timely.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Refugees; Forced migrants; Gendered displacement; Uganda; Reimagining liveable space; Grounded theory
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races J Political Science > JV Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education, Health and Sciences
Depositing User:	Charlotte Crutchlow
Date Deposited:	16 Jan 2026 09:19
Last Modified:	16 Jan 2026 09:30
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/15718

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