Experiences and needs of unaccompanied irregular migrant children who arrive in Spain on small boats: a qualitative study

Abstract

Abstract The European Union receives thousands of unaccompanied irregular migrant children every year, but little is known about their life experiences during the migration process. The aim of this study is to describe and understand the experiences of unaccompanied irregular migrant children who arrive in Spain on small boats with regard to their psychosocial and health needs. A descriptive qualitative study was undertaken. A focus group and in-depth interviews were conducted with 18 unaccompanied irregular migrant children from different African countries. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Three main themes emerged: (1) Unaccompanied irregular migrant children: risking it all for a better life; (2) Redefining your identity as a means of adaptation; (3) Obtaining legal status to avoid deportation. Unaccompanied migrant children risk their lives on the migration journey, but do not always find better conditions in the destination country. The unaccompanied irregular migrant children are forced to rebuild their lives at a high cost; they experience rejection from the host society and their culture of origin, which has a negative impact on their physical and psychological health over time.