Migration and adaptation to a new cultural environment can be highly stressful. For asylum-seekers and refugees (ASR), these challenges are exacerbated due to experiences of forced displacement and exposure to human rights violations. Such stressors can significantly hinder their ability to adjust to a new country. While existing studies on migrant adaptation tend to examine both positive and negative psychological adaptation (emotional well-being and subjective life satisfaction) and sociocultural adaptation (acquisition of skills and behaviours needed for everyday functioning), research focusing on ASR requires urgent investigation as its population continues to increase with protracted conflicts globally. Furthermore, most ASR-related studies focus predominantly on negative psychological adaptation, overlooking the broader spectrum of adaptation experiences. This study, therefore, examines both the positive and negative psychological and sociocultural adaptation processes of ASR in transit and resettlement countries. We conducted 14 focus group discussions involving 73 adults aged 18-65, with an average length stay of 3.47 years. Participants were located across three countries: Malaysia (N = 35) a transit country, Portugal (N = 20) and Germany (N = 18) as resettlement countries. Using a theory-based thematic analysis, we identified several common themes across the three countries. For psychological adaptation, participants highlighted positive elements such as a renewed sense of safety and hope for the future; while negative psychological aspects identified included persistent fear and sleep disturbances linked to the threat of deportation, and irregular employment in the receiving countries. In terms of sociocultural adaptation, ASR emphasised the importance of obtaining protection status, acquiring work-related skills and adopting public social norms as key components of adjusting to daily life in the receiving countries. Additional themes highlighted external stressors shaping adaptation, such as family connections, community support, and broader social interactions. Overall, our findings reveal that ASR experiences are unique, influenced by context-specific challenges, as they navigate pathways toward protection, stability, and eventually citizenship. This study offers a nuanced and comprehensive understanding of ASR adaptation processes. The insights generated can support the development of more responsive policies and targeted interventions to enable ASR to build safe, stable lives in their new countries.

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refugees,asylum-seekers,psychological adaptation,sociocultural adaptation