UNACCOMPANIED MINORS, ACTORS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THEIR IDENTITY
Our research questions the singular experience of UFMs regarding their pre-migration and peri-migration events, and their current conditions, in order to better understand the construction of their personhood.
Identifying factors likely to affect the mental health of unaccompanied minors
Unaccompanied minors in France are minors who have immigrated to France and have no parental reference or legal representative in their new country. These young people have been exposed to traumatic events prior to their migration, and consequently develop post-traumatic stress disorders and, more generally, fragile mental health, with a higher frequency of psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety. With a focus on social development psychology, this research project aims to highlight the factors likely to affect the mental health of unaccompanied minors, with a particular interest in the construction of their identity and self-representations. The aim of the project is to study how unaccompanied minors experience adolescence in exile, and to identify the resources and obstacles they perceive in the construction of their personalities. 3 research questions underpin the project: a-How do unaccompanied minors signify their psychosocial realities? b-What self-representations (past, present and future) do they construct about themselves? c-What factors do they identify as favorable and/or unfavorable to their self-construction?
Welcoming the voices of unaccompanied minors
Our research focuses on the experiences of unaccompanied minors (UAMs), both recognized and unrecognized, in the Occitanie region of France. This is a special population that can be difficult to study. As recognized UAMs are placed in care, any research protocol could be subject to reticence on the part of various actors. This is particularly the case for unrecognized UFMs, as associations working with them fear that they will be exploited. We therefore opted for a cross-disciplinary, comprehensive approach to data collection. Data will be collected from UFMs in two phases: a first exploratory phase, during which open interviews will be conducted to gather information useful for constructing the interview guide and identifying UFMs’ needs in terms of psycho-educational support. The second phase of data collection will consist of semi-structured interviews based on the previously constructed guide, and questionnaires assessing self-esteem. These interviews will be carried out in facilities such as maisons d’enfants à caractère social, Cimade, Médecins du monde, Apprentis d’Auteuil, etc.
Contributing to research into the psychosocial realities of UFMs in France
For three decades, France has been confronted with a particular migratory phenomenon, that of minors who have no parents and/or legal guardians in the host country. Since 2017, they have been referred to as Unaccompanied Minors (MNA) to emphasize the absence of adults who can ensure their protection and material needs. Despite the lack of data on the exact numbers of unaccompanied minors, existing statistics highlight the growing importance of this phenomenon. However, much remains to be learned about the psychosocial realities of UFMs in France. It is therefore important to develop research to better understand and support the mental health of UFMs. The aim of this project is to understand the plural self-definitions of UFMs, to highlight the difficulties perceived by UFMs in their development in France, to underline the reactions of UFMs to the past and present difficulties they encounter, and finally to identify the factors that contribute favorably to the development of UFMs.
Biography
Ayoko Akouavi Dogbe Foli obtained her doctorate in developmental psychology in 2021 from the Université Toulouse – Jean Jaurès. She is currently a teacher and Deputy Director of Studies for the Licence 2 and 3 psychology programs at the Institut Catholique de Toulouse. She is also a member of the Laboratoire de Psychologie de la Socialisation – Développement et Travail (LPS-DT) at the Université Toulouse – Jean Jaurès. Her research falls within the fields of developmental psychology and educational psychology, and focuses on the construction of identity, self-esteem and the relationship with parental educational practices during adolescence.