ERIC Number: EJ1443630
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024-Dec
Pages: 30
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1053-1890
EISSN: EISSN-1573-3319
Lessons from the Field: Seeking Support and Sharing Wisdom among Unaccompanied Guatemalan Migrant Youths in U.S. Agriculture
Fiorella L. Carlos Chavez; Antonella Bariani; Gustavo Carlo; Sylvia Zapata Shoemaker
Child & Youth Care Forum, v53 n6 p1399-1428 2024
There is evidence to suggest that undocumented, unaccompanied migrant youths confront emotional and physical hardships while working in the U.S. agriculture industry. However, little is known about the type of support available to these youths that could protect them from negative developmental outcomes. This qualitative research was designed to explore Guatemalan migrant youths' available support types, expectations of coming to the U.S. for work, and the life lessons learned from being undocumented, unaccompanied minors in the agriculture industry. A total of 10 unaccompanied Guatemalan youths (age range 15-17 years, Mage = 16.4 years; 100% male; 100% undocumented) participated in individual semi-structured audio-voice-recorded interviews in the Southeast. Interview responses were transcribed, coded, and analyzed. Thematic analysis yielded three primary interconnected themes: (1) "Coping and managing sadness by reaching out to others," (2) "I have a dream but then, reality hits," and (3) "Life lessons for future migrants." Findings suggest that despite their vulnerable social position, Guatemalan migrant youth in U.S. agriculture displayed an optimistic attitude, exercised persistence, and developed resourcefulness. Besides these competencies, youth possessed social networks with left-behind families, developed and leveraged new social ties to "manage sadness," and built a tight-knit community away from their countries of origin.
Descriptors: Undocumented Immigrants, Agricultural Occupations, Adolescents, Coping, Needs, At Risk Persons, Psychological Patterns, Persistence, Social Networks, Interpersonal Relationship, Barriers, Foreign Countries, Experience
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2123/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United States; Guatemala
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A