Adolescence is a critical period for many physiological and psychological changes in a human being. It is essentially a transitional period from a child to a full-blown adult. Thus, making it a significant period of growth and development, in terms of self-concept and self-esteem, because of which it is considered a period of discovery as well as disorientation. This period is also marked by greater involvement with peers and increased emotional separation from parents.
Adolescence, Separation, and the Added Layer of Migration
Even though this separation is a necessary step in growing up, it does cause some anxiety and distress to both the child and the parent. Now to this already stressful,l process, if we add the aspect of migrating, it adds an entirely new yet complex layer of challenges to the mix. The experience of moving to a new country during these formative years of one’s life can profoundly impact an adolescent’s sense of self and their feeling of belonging.
While migration does offer a promise of new opportunities and a better future, it also causes challenges of adjusting to a new place with new people. And more so for adolescents, since they not only have to navigate a new physical environment but also need to understand the complex changes that mark this phase of their life and thus adjust to them.
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Identity Shifts: Living Between Two Worlds
Individuals begin to form a coherent sense of self in their adolescence. They begin to clearly understand and define who they are, what makes them ‘them’, where they come from, where they belong, what their purpose is, etc. This is a complex yet fruitful process. But for adolescents who have migrated, it becomes confusing. Many of them find themselves between two cultures: their country of origin and their new country.
These adolescents often develop what is called a bicultural identity, which integrates aspects of both cultures. This type of identity formation can lead to greater adaptability and a broader worldview, but it can also cause internal conflict and confusion (Anagnostopoulos et al., 2006). In research, migrants reported that their family role dynamics saw a shift post-migration, which influences the individuals’ self-concept as well as their beliefs.
There were also reports of adults feeling like they belonged to both countries, thereby blending their cultural heritage with their new identity. While adults were able to adapt and cope with this transformation relatively easily, children faced difficulties. There also existed conflicting views about expectations, norms, and values between the parents and the children – where the children wanted to completely adapt to the new culture to fit in and be accepted by their peers, but the parents didn’t want them to forget their roots, thereby leading to more chaos and confusion (Bulut et al., 2024).
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Language Loss: When Words Fade, So Does Connection
Language is more than just communication; it is a link to one’s culture, a vessel for one’s emotional expression, and a reflection of one’s heritage and identity. Thus, on migration, this huge aspect faces a great challenge. Migration comes with the pressure to learn the language of this new country. This lack of knowledge of the new country’s language acts as one of the main reasons behind feeling like and being treated like an outsider, as well as acts as a barrier to developing a sense of belonging.
Not being able to speak the new country’s language creates difficulties in not being able to engage and communicate with the natives and creates challenges in their ability to express themselves. This limits interactions and reinforces the notion of the immigrants being outsiders and thus not belonging (Brance et al., 2024). But the acquisition of a new language often comes at the cost of losing proficiency in their native language.
This can lead to a disconnect from their culture and thus create confusion about their identity. It can also lead to communication gaps between children and their parents or other older relatives who may not be fluent in this new language, thereby straining family relationships. This is where the concept of cultural integration, where individuals try to blend into the new culture while also preserving their native, original identities to reduce conflicts and confusion (Bulut et al., 2024).
Additionally, many adults try to form and maintain friendships with people from their own culture to keep their heritage alive while also bridging that connection with the new culture and values. This can be an effective way to solve or mitigate the challenges that adolescents have to face (Perreira & Ornelas, 2011; Brance et al., 2024).
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The Quest for Belonging: Fitting In Without Losing Yourself
When adolescents move from their native place to a new place with a new culture, they tend to question who they are and if they belong in this place. Their need to be understood, accepted, and valued is already crucial in adolescence, and with migration, it becomes more challenging. They are required to adjust to the environmental and cultural changes that have occurred so that their identity and thinking processes aren’t conflicted. The process of adopting or integrating into a new culture is known as acculturation.
The process of acculturation involves both the individual who has migrated as well as the society. This process is very complex for adults, since it is accompanied by a lot of doubts and conflicts. These adolescents now have to understand new social norms, adapt to different cultural expectations, and form new peer groups. Since they are considered to be an “outsider”, they may experience social exclusion in various forms, subtle and outright, such as stereotypes, prejudices, racism, and bullying. This can severely undermine their mental health and make it hard for them to feel accepted and form good, meaningful friendships.
This feeling of not belonging can lead to shame, low self-worth, loneliness, and social isolation. Further, adolescents may entirely reject their native culture and completely assimilate into this new culture in an attempt to fit in. This may result in a complete loss of their native identity and heritage, thereby confusing them further. Thus, it becomes crucial to create a balance and offer the adolescent acceptance regardless of their migration status (Wiese, 2010; Fang et al., 2020).
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Conclusion
While on one hand, migration does offer the promise of new opportunities and a better future, on the other, it also causes challenges of adjusting to a new place with new people. And these challenges are then combined with the challenges that adolescents any anyway. The experience of moving to a new country during these formative years of one’s life can profoundly impact an adolescent’s sense of self and their feeling of belonging.
Thus, making it more difficult for adolescents as they not only have to navigate a new physical environment but also need to understand the complex changes that mark this phase of their lives. The psychological impact of migration is complex, and especially so for adolescents. Identity shifts, language loss, and the quest for belonging influence the migrant adolescents’ sense of self. This can all lead to significant stress. But all of this can be better handled and dealt with by proper measures.
Primarily, families, teachers, and policymakers need to understand these dynamics and provide safe spaces for these children to explore and shape their identities, maintain the ties to their heritage while combining it with the new values and norms, and also to develop a strong self-concept. Thus, when supported, these migrant adolescents can flourish and bloom by bridging their past and present. Thereby creating a bright future for themselves.
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FAQs
1. What are the impacts of migration on adolescents?
The psychological impact of migration is complex, and especially so for adolescents. Since the challenges of adjusting to a new place with new people are combined with their preexisting challenges of developing their self-concept and self-esteem, this period is marked with discovery.
2. What challenges do migrated adolescents face?
Migrated adolescents face conflicts with their identity formations, loss of their native language because of expected proficiency in the new language, and the quest for belonging in a new place and as an independent adult. A mixture of all of these, among many other things, influences the migrant adolescents’ sense of self. This can all lead to significant stress if it is not handled and dealt with properly.
3. How can parents help adolescents adjust after migration?
Parents play a crucial role in the development of their children. Research has concluded that children with supportive and actively present parents tend to be better able to adjust and accept the new lifestyle post-migration. Thus, parents should maintain a healthy connection with their heritage and instil the same in their children. They can also help their children by talking openly and helping them manage the stress and confusion around their identity, especially with the added factor of a new country, new values, new norms, and new expectations.
4. How can migrant adolescents be supported emotionally?
Families, teachers, and policymakers need to understand the challenges and dynamics that adolescents have to face. And thus provide safe spaces for these children to explore and shape their identities, maintain the ties to their heritage while combining it with the new values and norms, and also to develop a strong self-concept.
References +
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