Trauma and Resilience among Migrant Children from Mexico and the Northern Triangle en Route to the United States

Authors

Georgina Sanchez Garcia, University of Texas at El PasoFollow
Mark Lusk, University of Texas at El PasoFollow
Paula Chavez Santamaria, Universidad Nacional Autonóma de MexicoFollow

Keywords

Migration, Trauma, Child Migrants, Violence, Poverty, Resilience

Abstract

Children who are forced to migrate to flee violence, extreme poverty, and natural disasters are exposed to trauma in their countries of origin and on the migrant trail. Forced child migrants from Central America and Mexico who flee to the U.S. border are particularly vulnerable. In this qualitative study, we interviewed 76 migrant children from Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. We listened to their stories and assessed exposure to adverse events, traumatic stress and child resiliency. While children experienced adversity and trauma, they were protected by high levels of resiliency that is grounded in family, faith, courage and camaraderie.

Recommended Citation

Sanchez Garcia, Georgina; Lusk, Mark; and Chavez Santamaria, Paula (2022) "Trauma and Resilience among Migrant Children from Mexico and the Northern Triangle en Route to the United States," The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 49: Iss. 3, Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15453/0191-5096.4594
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol49/iss3/3