Adolescents at Risk: Comparing Italian and Immigrant Youth

This chapter analyzes the well-being of an at-risk adolescent population that has been poorly studied in the literature. Adolescents at psychosocial risk are on a developmental path characterized by crucial, moderating or precursor factors of distress and maladjustment. This article presents results of a multi-methods study conducted to identify whether migratory status represented an additional critical factor along the developmental path of adolescents toward adaptation or maladjustment. Quantitative survey methods provided a background of descriptive information concerning adolescents at psychosocial risk adjustment, coping strategies, social support and ethnic identity, while qualitative methods offered richer, deeper understanding of these issues in relation to migration experience. The study sample comprised 60 adolescents (M = 18.02 years; 45% Italians and 55% immigrant; 58.3% males and 41.7% females) at psychosocial risk. Each adolescent completed a questionnaire that analized their ability to adapt, their level of maladjustment, their coping strategies and their perceived level of social support. 10 young immigrants participated to in-depth interviews in order to thoroughly describe the meaning and complexity of this phenomenon in the interviewees’ own words.