Resiliencia en los jóvenes que han migrado solos a Melilla

Abstract

The main objective of this research is to identify and analyze the behaviors or elements that favor resilience in young people who migrate alone who are in Melilla (Spain). For this, a mixed approach with a sequential explanatory design was used, with two stages: in the first, quantitative data was collected and analyzed through a questionnaire with a sufficient degree of validity and reliability that includes a scale to identify profiles and resilient behaviors and, in the second, the qualitative data was collected and evaluated (through a semi-structured interview, field diary and anecdotal record), building the second phase on the results of the first and, finally, the findings of both stages were integrated into the interpretation and preparation of the complete analysis. The sample of the quantitative part was made up of 148 young people (42 in "street situation", 47 from "Fuerte Purísima" and 59 from "Gota de Leche"), chosen by probabilistic sampling and the sample of the qualitative phase was made up of 52 young people (of the 148) who resulted in a resilience level higher than 140 points (maximum = 160), 22 being from the street, 15 from “Gota de Leche” and 15 from “Fuerte Purísima”. Thus, the participants presented moderately high scores regarding their level of resilience, identifying through a two-stage analysis three clusters corresponding to profiles of young people with different levels of resilience, where those who live on the street proved to be the most resilient. Likewise, they were found as adverse circumstances that they had gone through the extreme level of poverty, abandonment, expulsion from their homes, the death of a loved one, orphanhood, abuse, etc. In addition, it was observed that their childhood-adolescence was marked by the obligation to perform abusive jobs to contribute to the precarious economic-family situation, life on the street, migration, etc. Similarly, being almost all from Morocco, it was found that the majority came from family units with coexistence problems, scarcity of resources, extended families, etc., where young people did not receive due attention. Likewise, the majority have migrated for work and to obtain the documentation that allows them to regularize their situation in Spain. Their migration process to Melilla was also known, planned by some and improvised by others, and the tough obstacles faced, such as overcoming the barriers that prevent access to this city. In the same way, it was found that only some (especially those of "Gota de Leche") were in Melilla in a favorable situation and conditions. Many of those who live on the street do not want to be in "Fuerte Purísima" (a center that would correspond to them because they share the profile of minors housed in this center: males over 12 years of age) due to the conditions of said center (rules, treatment, hygiene , dissatisfaction of needs, conflicts...), the discrimination they suffer, a bad reputation, because they consider it a waste of time, etc. Finally, although all of them perceived themselves working, raising a family and residing in another Spanish city within 10 years, two large groups were distinguished according to their current objective: those who have a clear migration objective who are looking for immediate work to improve their economic situation and those who want protection, who are the majority of those welcomed, above all, in “Gota de Leche”.