Effects of Resilience and Acculturation Stress on Integration and Social Competence of Migrant Children and Adolescents in Northern Chile

• Main Authors: Alejandra Caqueo-Urízar, Alfonso Urzúa, Carolang Escobar-Soler, Jerome Flores, Patricio Mena-Chamorro, Ester Villalonga-Olives
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-02-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: integration and social competence; migrant children and adolescents; resilience; acculturation stress; Latin-American
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/4/2156
• ISSN: 1661-7827; 1660-4601

Migration in Chile has increased exponentially in recent years, with education being one of the main focuses of attention in this cultural transformation. Integration and social competence in the migrant population are determined by several factors. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential effects of resilience and acculturation stress on the levels of integration and social competence in migrant students in Northern Chile. In total, 292 school children of both genders aged 8 to 18, from the fourth grade to senior year of high school, participated in the investigation. A subscale of the Child and Adolescent Assessment System (Sistema de evaluación de niños y adolescentes SENA) was used to assess integration and social competence. Additionally, the Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM-12) and the Acculturation Stress Source Scale (FEAC) were used. The results show that integration and social competence have statistically significant and direct associations with resilience (<i>p < 0.001</i>) and indirect associations with acculturation stress (<i>p = 0.009</i>). Both constructs could be defined as protection and risk factors, respectively, and should be considered in educational contexts to favor adaptation in the integration of migrant children and adolescents.