Resiliencia en adolescentes infractores con trayectorias en los sistemas chilenos de bienestar infantil y de justicia adolescente

Abstract

This article delves into the processes of signification regarding resilience among adolescents who have traversed the Chilean child welfare and juvenile justice systems, as it plays a pivotal role in identifying factors conducive to adaptation and social integration. Drawing from qualitative research grounded in a phenomenological approach, the study analyzed six in-depth, semi-structured interviews with adolescents who have interacted with both systems. Findings underscore that personal resilience in adolescents is closely tied to their self-perception and learning experiences aimed at developing social skills and emotional regulation. Additionally, social and institutional resilience is marked by adolescents’ perceptions of enhancements in their quality of life and their ability to adapt socially. They emphasize the importance of establishing solid, trustworthy, and enduring relationships with counselors and educators, alongside highlighting the supportive role of intervention institutions in fostering personal, relational growth, and in shaping a proactive and adaptive life trajectory. These outcomes underscore the need to integrate resilience processes into the design of interventions targeting vulnerable children and adolescents caught in situations of legal transgression, advocating for their incorporation into public policies addressing childhood and adolescent vulnerability.