The Australian Community Psychologist - APS Member Groups

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Migrant resilience 130 affiliation. In their collective spiritual meetings the migrants focus on the similarities between them rather than on denominational differences. Migrants encouraged each other to have fellowship meetings once a week, and, although participants were often from different denominations, they came together on Sundays to worship together: “We are from different religion[s] such as, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Anglican and Methodist. We all meet here. As a community we just meet together in one area to pray. We are all Christians”. Discussion Despite the asymmetrical power relationships between illegal migrants and authorities, employers and local citizens, as well as abusive control mechanisms used by the legal officials to endorse the submissive position of illegal migrants, the migrants adapted positively. The transactional processes involved in the migrants’ resilience included both protective resources within the self as well as relational context-bound interactions. However, both intrapersonal and relational resources are relationally oriented. The protective resources of resilient illegal migrants, which include regulation of the self, hope, optimism and autonomy, are described in relation to significant others. From this perspective the protective resources in the self are possible because they are part of relationships. This relational world-view is illustrated by the relational interactions which emerged on two contextual levels, namely the cultural and the existential. In terms of the cultural context, which is underpinned by shared values and beliefs, it seems as if illegal migrants define their relationship with fellow migrants as one of equality; they confirmed each other; provided care for each other; expressed empathy and emotional closeness; and felt safe enough to become transparent (Vorster, 2011). These are all aspects that nurture relationships and which are crucial for illegal migrants who constantly have to deal with uncertainty and limited resources. In these nurturing relationships illegal migrants are included in the sheltering power (Hernández, 2002; Kitching, 2010) of a relational community which is similar to the community at home. Limitations and Recommendations Due to the xenophobic attacks, it was not easy to gain access to illegal migrants because of their suspicions about the nature of the research and their fear of deportation. The research was consequently limited to a few participants who were willing to take part in the study. It is recommended that policy makers review immigration policies in respect of illegal migrants who can add value to the South African economy. Finding intervention strategies for legalising especially skilled illegal migrants rather than deporting them is essential. Policies are also needed to protect the human rights of illegal migrants – such policies would reduce the exploitation of such migrants by employers and South African citizens. Controlling the corruption of some police and Home Affairs officials would also help reduce the number of illegal migrants. A conducive environment for skilled illegal migrants would help them maximise their potential, thereby benefiting the South African economy. The findings indicate strategies that illegal migrants apply to cope with the risks and adversity they face on both a sociopolitical and interpersonal level. Conclusion Illegal migration in South Africa is likely to continue or even increase. Understanding how these migrants adapt positively to the risks and challenges they face is therefore crucial to the health and wellbeing of the population. Nurturing relationships provide a buffer to violent sociopolitical and uncertain cultural contexts. In contexts of significant risk, the relational context, embedded in cultural and existential contexts, provide opportunities to belong, to The Australian Community Psychologist Volume 23 No 2 August 2011 © The Australian Psychological Society Ltd
Migrant resilience 131 share, to extend, and to be human because people are able to relate. In a threatening external context, the relational context promotes resilience. References Ackerstrom, M., Jacobsson, K., & Wasterfors, D. (2004). Reanalysis of previously collected material. In S. Clive, G. Giampietro, F. Jaber, & D. Silverman (Eds.), Qualitative research practice (pp. 344-358). London: Sage. Altinyelken, H. K. (2009). Coping strategies among internal migrant students in Turkey. International Journal of Educational Research, 48, 174-183. Bloch, A. (2010). The rights to rights?: Undocumented migrants from Zimbabwe living in South Africa, Sociology, 44(2), 233-250. Retrieved from http:// www.sagepub.co.uk/journal Permission.nav Blumer, H. (1969). Symbolic interactionism: Perspective method. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Burns, N., & Grove, S.K. (2005). The practice of nursing research. Conduct, critique & utilization (5th ed.). Philadelphia: WB Saunders. Cicchetti, D., Rogosch, F. A., Lynch, M., & Holt, K. D. (1993). Resilience in maltreated children: Processes leading to adaptive outcome. Development and Psychopathology, 5, 629-647. Corti, L., & Bishop, L. (2005). Strategies in teaching secondary analysis of qualitative data. Forum Qualitative Social Research Sozialforschung, 6(1), Art. 47. Retrieved from http:// www.Qualitative-research.net/fqs Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among five approaches (2 nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Cross, C., Gelderblom, D., Roux, N., & Mafukidze, J. (2006). Views on migration in sub-Saharan Africa. Proceedings of an African Migration Alliance Workshop. Cape Town, South Africa. HSRC Press. Crush, J., & Williams, V. (2003). Criminal tendencies: Immigrants and illegality in South Africa. Migration Policy Brief No. 10. Cape Town: Southern Africa Migration Project. Garcia, S., & Duplat, P. (2007). Zimbabwe exodus: Key facts on humanitarian assistance. Refugees International. Retrieved from http:// www.refintl,org/ content/article/detail 10282 Greeff, A. P., & Holtzkamp J. (2007). The prevalence of resilience in migrant families. Family & Community Health, 30(3), 189-200. Hall, T. W. (2004). Christian spirituality and mental health: Relational Spirituality Paradigm for Empirical Research, 23 (1), 66-81. Heaton, J. (1998). Secondary analysis of qualitative data: Social research updates (Working Paper No.22). Guilford: University of Surrey. Hernández, P. (2002). Resilience in families and communities: Latin American contributions from the psychology of liberation. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 10(3), 334-343. Kivett, V. (1990). Older rural women: Mythical, forebearing, unsung. Journal of Community Psychology, 11, 83-101. Kitching, A. E. (2010). Conceptualising a relationship-focused approach to the coconstruction of enabling school communities. Unpublished mansucript. Department of Psychology, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. Klaaren, J., & Ramji, J. (2001). Inside illegality: Migration policing in South Africa after Apartheid. Africa Today, 48 (3), 35-47. The Australian Community Psychologist Volume 23 No 2 August 2011 © The Australian Psychological Society Ltd
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The Australian Community Psychologi
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Contents Contents 3 General Informa
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Editorial 5 Lynne Cohen Catherine F
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7 Psychologists’ Understandings o
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Psychologists’ definitions of res
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23 On Cultural Resiliency Naji Abi-
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Cultural resiliency 25 any degree,
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Cultural resiliency 27 cultural sel
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Cultural resiliency 29 supernatural
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Cultural resiliency 31 Resilience.
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Single mothers’ experiences and r
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Same-sex parents 51 were reported t
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Same-sex parents 53 is becoming the
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Same-sex parents 55 and gay couples
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Same-sex parents 57 Table 1 Themes
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Same-sex parents 59 first when init
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Same-sex parents 61 Andersen, Burto
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Same-sex parents 63 supports the li
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Same-sex parents 65 attitudes and f
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Same-sex parents 67 gay parents. Ch
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Negotiating Resilience 69 to guide
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Negotiating Resilience 71 Figure 1.
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Negotiating Resilience 73 Table 1 S
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Negotiating Resilience 75 Simultane
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Negotiating Resilience 77 determini
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Page 85 and 86: 85 Resilience in Western Australian
Page 87 and 88: Resilience in adolescence 87 identi
Page 89 and 90: Resilience in adolescence 89 Partic
Page 91 and 92: Resilience in adolescence 91 my emo
Page 93 and 94: Reflections on Poverty 93 relations
Page 95 and 96: Resilience in adolescence 95 being
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Page 101 and 102: Resilience in adolescence 101 Resil
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Page 105 and 106: Resilience and Professional Nurses
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Page 123 and 124: Migrant resilience 123 participants
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Page 133 and 134: Migrant resilience 133 positive psy
Page 135 and 136: 135 Measurement Performance of the
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Page 149 and 150: Manuscript Preparation 149 2. The c
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