Post-migratory milieu and the wellbeing of adolescent immigrants: European Journal of Social Work

Viewed from a psychoanalytic-developmental perspective, migration recaptures separation individuation conflicts and therefore may hinder or facilitate the personal development of adolescents. One of the factors that determine the outcome of migration in adolescents is the post-migratory milieu. The focus of this study is on an educational-residential program for unaccompanied adolescent immigrants from the former Soviet Union in Israel that provides a structured and supportive post-migratory milieu. The respondents were 573 students in the program, aged 14?18. They reported a lower level of psychological distress than that previously found among their peers who immigrated with their parents and were living in the community. Group support and positive relationships with surrogate parental figures were among the strongest predictors of psychological wellbeing. These results and implications of the study, beyond the specific program and setting, are discussed.