1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«[T]he purpose of this exploratory study was to describe the migration experience of children recently settled in the province of Québec (Canada). More specifically, [authors] sought to understand how children adapt, how they perceive their migratory journey, and what the central issues are from their perspective.» (p. 2)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
The study «took place in three regions of Quebec. Participating children were recruited with the help of community agencies that provide services to newcomers. Participants were selected by reasoned choice. To participate, children had to: [b]e between 6 and 14 years of age; [h]ave lived in Canada for less than 3 years, to minimize the effect that the time period between leaving the host country and arriving in Canada had on the narrative dimensions of the child’s memory; [a]dequately understand and speak the language used in Quebec, namely French; and [w]ish to participate in the research, in accordance with the child-centred approach […]. The sample consisted of 43 immigrant children aged 6 to 14 years […] from 27 families and 17 different countries.» (p. 3)

Instruments :
Questionnaire

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

«The migration experience of the refugee children […] was rooted in their parents’ concern to escape war or armed conflict and revealed an understanding of their immigration as a way to escape poverty and danger and to improve their lives. In addition, they received a diversified support for integration in their new country. Therefore, despite nostalgia for their friends and relatives who remained in their country of origin, they expressed mostly positive feelings towards their immigration. […] The children’s discourse also highlighted certain characteristics of their family functioning that seem to be associated with their adaptation to immigration. Indeed, the narratives of the children interviewed revealed mostly good relationships with their parents and confirmed the results of similar studies in highlighting the importance of the support received from their parents […]. Receiving emotional support from their parents, as well as providing support to their parents in return […] allows children to develop a mediating role between their family and the host community and contributes to their sense of “teaming up” with their family in adapting to immigration. Moreover, family communication seems to play an important role in the adaptation of refugee children, although it is still poorly understood […].» (p. 6-7)