Counseling Psychologist
Volume 46, Issue 2, 2018, Pages 241-268

“They Were Going to Kill Me”: Resilience in Unaccompanied Immigrant Minors (Article)

Becker Herbst R.* , Sabet R.F. , Swanson A. , Suarez L.G. , Marques D.S. , Ameen E.J. , Aldarondo E.
  • a University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
  • b University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
  • c University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
  • d University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
  • e University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
  • f University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States, American Psychological Association, Washington, DC, United States
  • g University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States

Abstract

Unaccompanied and undocumented immigrant minors (UUIM) have become the focus of increased attention. Unfortunately, public discourse is often decontextualized, simplistic, and polarized. Empirical literature fails to capture the experiences of UUIM and identify strategies to promote their well-being. In this article we begin to address these gaps through qualitative inquiry. We analyzed written narratives of 292 Latino UUIM using a theoretical thematic analysis. Participants described motives for, and experiences of, the migration process. Guided by Ungar et al.’s (2007) conceptualization of resilience, five subthemes emerged: access to material resources, relationships, identity and cohesion, social justice, and perilous journey. The results from our study highlight (a) the youth’s difficult and often traumatic experiences in their homeland, (b) the factors that made migrating to the United States appealing to them, and (c) the dangerous journey they experienced. Implications for practice, research, and advocacy are discussed. © 2018, © The Author(s) 2018.

Author Keywords

Latino Resilience Undocumented immigrants Unaccompanied immigrant minors Well-being

Index Keywords

social justice narrative juvenile adult thematic analysis theoretical study identity Article United States human wellbeing undocumented immigrant Hispanic
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85044413760&doi=10.1177%2f0011000018759769&partnerID=40&md5=c009a346b31606877faab4667563f87c
DOI: 10.1177/0011000018759769
ISSN: 00110000
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English