title: "I want a normal life like everyone else": Daily life of asylum seekers in Iceland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An ever-increasing number of people seek asylum in Iceland. The wait for resolution on application for asylum can take up to three years. During this time participation in daily occupations is disrupted. This study was carried out to gain an understanding of the experience of living as an asylum seeker in Iceland. It explored asylum seekers' opportunities for participation in occupations as well as their overall experiences while waiting for the processing of their application.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine participants, of whom six were asylum seekers. A constructivist grounded theory approach was applied to categorize and synthesize data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four major categories emerged that reflected the participants' difficult living conditions, lack of opportunities for participation, lack of belonging, and feelings of powerlessness. The long processing time of their applications was enormously stressful as well as not being in charge of one's life, living conditions, or income.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that the long processing time of application for asylum has deteriorating effects on health. In order to promote asylum seekers' well-being and occupational rights attention needs to be focused on their living conditions and opportunities for participation in meaningful occupations, including work.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Human and Social Sciences , University of Iceland, Gimli Saemundargata , Reykjavik , Iceland.
authors.forename: Lilja
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ingvarsson
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Human and Social Sciences , University of Iceland, Gimli Saemundargata , Reykjavik , Iceland.
authors.forename: Snæfrídur Thóra
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Egilson
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Human and Social Sciences , University of Iceland, Gimli Saemundargata , Reykjavik , Iceland.
authors.forename: Unnur Dís
authors.initials: UD
authors.lastname: Skaptadottir
mesh_terms: D066296:Grounded Theory; D006184:Habits; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland; D008297:Male; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011287:Prejudice; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012924:Social Conditions; D058992:Social Participation; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014478:Unemployment / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Disruption; living conditions; occupations; opportunities; powerlessness; waiting time