Abstract

Family reunification following migration-related separations is often challenging for immigrant youth as they adjust to their new environment and reacquaint with their caregiver. Scant research has explored the experiences of family reunification specifically for unaccompanied immigrant youth. This study was a secondary analysis to explore the complexities of family reunification through the lens of attachment theory and family systems. Data were collected from 30 youth, six parents, and four school administrators via focus groups and semistructured interviews. Unaccompanied immigrant youth had arrived to the United States in the previous three years from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, or Mexico. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results showed that the youth struggled to reconnect with their parents due to prolonged separations, which contributed to loneliness and feelings of loss. Parent–child attachment disruptions contributed to problems related to relationships among family members, traditional family roles and hierarchies, and new family constellations (e.g., blended families). Results point to the importance of developing interventions to increase trust, empathy, and communication between unaccompanied immigrant youth and their parents.

中文翻译：

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“Es Como Que no los Conociera”：无人陪伴的移民青年与他们的美国家人团聚

摘要

与移民相关的分离后的家庭团聚对移民青年来说往往具有挑战性，因为他们正在适应新环境并重新认识他们的照顾者。很少有研究专门针对无人陪伴的移民青年探索家庭团聚的经历。本研究是从依恋理论和家庭系统的角度探讨家庭团聚复杂性的二次分析。通过焦点小组和半结构化访谈从 30 名青少年、6 名家长和 4 名学校管理人员那里收集数据。在过去三年中，无人陪伴的青年移民从洪都拉斯、萨尔瓦多、危地马拉或墨西哥抵达美国。使用主题分析对数据进行分析。结果表明，由于长期分居，这些年轻人很难与父母重新建立联系，这导致了孤独和失落感。亲子依恋中断导致了与家庭成员之间的关系、传统的家庭角色和等级以及新的家庭星座（例如，混合家庭）相关的问题。结果表明，制定干预措施以增加无人陪伴的移民青年与其父母之间的信任、同理心和沟通的重要性。