ARIAS, G.S. A experiência emocional de crianças migrantes e refugiadas acolhidas em São Paulo [The emotional experience of migrant and refugee children welcomed in São Paulo]. 164 p. Doctoral Thesis – Instituto de psicologia, Universidade de São Paulo, 2022.
Available on: https://doi.org/10.11606/T.47.2022.tde-17012023-120005
Abstract: The issue of international displacements has proved to be of great relevance, as it has become a global reality, due to the occurrence of armed conflicts and sociopolitical crises that enhance precarious subsistence conditions. This study had the following general objectives: to describe aspects of the emotional experience of children in situations of migration and refugee in the city of São Paulo; and to describe the psychological care offered to children and their families in situations of migration and refugee. The specific objectives were: to report the experience of the doctoral internship at the transcultural clinic in France, aiming to deepen the discussion about the techniques of psychological care offered in this study; and to describe aspects of the children’s family dynamics and their introjection of parental figures. Qualitative research was carried out, based on the clinical method, in a multiple case study. Six children participated in the study, in a migration and/or refugee situation, aged between seven and twelve years old, of which two were Venezuelan, three Angolan and one Haitian. The mothers and one father also participated in the study. The inclusion criteria were: immigrants living in Brazil for a maximum of one year, hosted in an institution destined for this purpose, in the city of São Paulo, where data collection took place. Therapeutic meetings were carried out, using semi-structured interviews with the parents, playful interviews with the children and The Thematic Drawing-and-Story Procedure. It was observed that the relationship with the experience of migration was mixed with the life history and previous psychic resources of the participants. Migration was experienced as a crisis situation, for which there were attempts to elaborate mourning. Needs of belonging and adaptation to the environment were observed. The children showed concerns about their families and desires to unite it, taking responsibility for the affective support of the parents. The importance of the maternal figure was perceived, in terms of affective security. The father figure was seen as fragile and absent. The setting of therapeutic encounters was adequate as it allowed the subjects to receive listening and psychological support in the crisis. The need to expand research with this public and to train health professionals to meet this demand are pointed out.