Abstract
Immigration of adolescents involves multiple, many-faceted changes. This study examined the experience of absorption of adolescents in Israel, in the digital age, through the eyes of mentors who work with them, from the mentors’ social-emotional perspective of themselves and of their students. In this mixed-method study, 122 mentors completed questionnaires with closed and open-ended questions, and wrote extensively about their difficulties. The findings show that most mentors (66%) worked hard to make their students part of the social fabric. Some of the mentors (34%) encountered problems resulting from misunderstandings and poor communication because of language difficulties and lack of control over pragmatic aspects in a sociocultural context. They strove to raise social awareness in the adolescents through observation, and to provide tools for reading and responding to behaviors, all the while encouraging social involvement. Mentors thought that digital environments helped them and the adolescents in their coping. Thanks to digital environments, especially smartphones, adolescents were able to blend into their new environment. Translation, databases, numerous applications, and groups on social networks respond to their needs and help with difficulties they encounter in real time, creating a sense of social connection and belonging.
Highlights
Migration is a process of transition from one culture to another
This study examined the experience of absorption of adolescents in Israel, in the digital age, through the eyes of mentors who work with them, from the mentors’ social-emotional perspective of themselves and of their students
The aim of the present study was to examine the experience of absorption of new immigrant adolescents in the digital age, through the eyes of mentors working with them, from the mentors' social-emotional perspective of themselves and their charges, with respect to assistance to adolescents in social and emotional aspects; belonging vs alienation; integrating digital environments in the work of the mentors with new immigrant youths; and the social-emotional aspects of the mentors’ work
Summary
Migration is a process of transition from one culture to another. This process usually requires many adjustments at multiple levels to deal with physiological, emotional, mental, and social changes, and involves disconnecting from the socialization process in the country of origin. Immigrant youths view digital environments as a door to a global world, open and full of possibilities and information, compensating for the shortcomings and difficulties they encounter in the new country and for the physical distance between them and their friends and loved ones who remained abroad. Both in hard times and good ones, they have someone with whom to share experiences, in their native language. They find that communication alleviates feelings of longing, enabling intimate discourse, sharing of emotions, releasing anger, and soothing frustration (Moore & McElroy, 2012; Zilka, 2017, 2019a, 2020b)
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