Research and Policy Recommendations
When Scars (!) Become Art project is founded on rigorous, evidence-based research conducted in collaboration with the West University of Timisoara (UVT) and partner NGOs. This research is the essential foundation that guides the co-creation of our tools and drives our final policy recommendations, ensuring our solutions are grounded in the lived experiences of marginalized youth.
Research Framework
This section outlines the strategic goals, significance, and scientific approach used by the consortium for the 18-month joint research process.
Research Aim
The purpose of the joint research is to explore the impact of discrimination as well as inclusion on the wellbeing of disadvantaged youth (young Roma, Refugees, and Migrants) across six European contexts. This study seeks to identify the specific mechanisms through which systemic exclusion and inclusion affect mental health, and determine the types of structural support needed by both the youth themselves and the youth workers supporting them.
Significant of the Study
This study holds significant value in several respects, both in terms of its empirical contributions and its practical implications for youth support services and policy development.
First, the study engages directly with disadvantaged populations in multiple countries, thus offering insights that are context-sensitive yet broadly relevant across Europe. By including voices from groups that are often marginalized in research and policy (particularly Roma and refugee youth), the project helps bridge knowledge gaps and foreground the lived realities of those most affected by structural and interpersonal discrimination.
Second, the study’s pragmatic orientation—not only identifying the impact of discrimination but also seeking ways to mitigate it—ensures its relevance for stakeholders seeking to enhance the design and delivery of youth services. The focus on identifying effective support mechanisms contributes to the development of targeted, culturally sensitive, and youth-informed interventions.
Third, by adopting a mixed-methods design, the study offers a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of how social exclusion and discrimination affect the wellbeing of disadvantaged youth. The quantitative component enables the identification of broad patterns and correlations across a diverse, cross-national sample of Roma, migrant, and refugee/asylum-seeking youth, offering valuable comparative insights into how discrimination impacts wellbeing. At the same time, the qualitative component adds depth by exploring the subjective experiences and expressed needs of both disadvantaged youth and the professionals who work with them. This dual perspective—from both service users and providers—strengthens the study’s capacity to inform actionable recommendations.
Finally, by involving local organizations in the data collection process, the study reinforces the importance of community-based research practices, which can enhance trust, improve data quality, and promote the translation of findings into locally grounded practices and policies.
Research Methodology
The consortium employs a sequential mixed-methods design to ensure both statistical breadth and deep contextual understanding.
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Quantitative Component (Cross-sectional study):
Application of a standardized questionnaire on a sample of young people from disadvantaged groups (Roma, migrants, and refugees/asylum seekers). This component focuses on analyzing the statistical effects of discrimination on various aspects of wellbeing. -
Qualitative Component (In-depth investigation):
Conducting a series of semi-structured interviews with youth workers and youngsters from disadvantaged groups. This component explores the type of support needed to improve the quality and efficacy of support services.
Key Research Variables (Quantitative):
Discrimination
Variables included: Forms of discrimination encountered, Self-reported ethnicity, Perceived Ethnic Discrimination
Image of the world
Variables included: Benevolence of the world, Benevolence of people, Justice, Controllability
Place in the world
Variables included: Social connectedness, Internalization of Discrimination, Self-worth, Self-controllability
Wellbeing
Variables included: General (Satisfaction with life, Mental health), Specific (Depression, Anxiety, Trauma Symptoms of Discrimination).
Main Research Themes (Qualitative):
Impact of discrimination on youngsters' wellbeing.
Barriers in disadvantaged youngsters' access to adequate support.
Support measures needed by youngsters to overcome the negative effects of discrimination.
Support measures needed by youth workers to provide adequate services to disadvantaged youngsters.
Synthesis of Key Findings
Will be shared after the reports published
Policy Recommendations
The policy recommendations are currently under development, crafted by the consortium leadership and the academic partner (UVT), drawing directly from the validated quantitative and qualitative findings of the joint research. The process follows three strategic steps: Evidence-Based Drafting, where initial drafts are formulated based on clear correlations and findings from the six national research reports to ensure all recommendations are directly supported by data on youth exclusion and mental wellbeing; Expert Validation, where the drafts are subjected to rigorous review by external experts and the internal National/International Expert Panels to ensure the policy points are feasible, structurally relevant, and tailored to the unique policy landscapes of each partner country; and Finalization, where the recommendations will be finalized into a comprehensive Joint Policy Recommendation Paper for EU and international stakeholders, complemented by Six National Policy Recommendation Papers designed for country-specific ministries and institutions.
Rest of the information will be written after the policy recommendation papers are completed and ready to be published.
