Effects of Resilience and Acculturation Stress on Integration and Social Competence of Migrant Children and Adolescents in Northern Chile.

Alejandra Caqueo-Urízar,Ester Villalonga-Olives,Alfonso Urzúa,Jerome Flores,Patricio Mena-Chamorro,Carolang Escobar-Soler

doi:10.3390/ijerph18042156

Abstract

Migration in Chile has increased exponentially in recent years, with education being one of the main focuses of attention in this cultural transformation. Integration and social competence in the migrant population are determined by several factors. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential effects of resilience and acculturation stress on the levels of integration and social competence in migrant students in Northern Chile. In total, 292 school children of both genders aged 8 to 18, from the fourth grade to senior year of high school, participated in the investigation. A subscale of the Child and Adolescent Assessment System (Sistema de evaluación de niños y adolescentes SENA) was used to assess integration and social competence. Additionally, the Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM-12) and the Acculturation Stress Source Scale (FEAC) were used. The results show that integration and social competence have statistically significant and direct associations with resilience (p < 0.001) and indirect associations with acculturation stress (p = 0.009). Both constructs could be defined as protection and risk factors, respectively, and should be considered in educational contexts to favor adaptation in the integration of migrant children and adolescents.

Highlights

It is estimated that between 2010 and 2019, the displacement of migrant families reached 66% and that nearly 42.7 million people are legal and illegal residents in countries other than their country of origin
Considering that migratory flows in Latin America tend to show significant and progressive increases year after year, together with the conditions of poverty and segregation faced by migrant families, the difficulties associated with the inclusion of foreign children and adolescents, and the need for increasingly updated studies on the characteristics of the interpersonal development of the migrant child and youth population in Latin America, the aim of this study is to evaluate the potential effects of resilience and acculturation stress on levels of integration and social competence in migrant students between 9 and 18 years of age in Northern Chile
The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential effects of resilience and acculturation stress on levels of integration and social competence in migrant students in Northern

Summary

Introduction

It is estimated that between 2010 and 2019, the displacement of migrant families reached 66% and that nearly 42.7 million people are legal and illegal residents in countries other than their country of origin. Studies on migration in Latin America and the Caribbean have shown that the political, economic, and social scenarios in the region tend to make migrant families fall into poverty. Since migration is not recognized as a legitimate right by international organizations, States do not accept legislative obligations or responsibility for designing public policies that respect or protect migrants in terms of social security, employment, or access to basic services, such as health, housing, and education.

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