M i g r a n t s ’, A s y l u m - S e e k e r s ’, a n d R e f u g e e s ’ I n s i g h t s : P o l i c i e s , O b s e r v a t i o n s , S t r e n g t h s , a n d A d a p t a t i o n s ( P r o j e c t M A R I P O S A )
Kellogg Institute Graduate Research Grants
U.S. prevention through deterrence (PTD) policies increase the prevalence, danger, and duration of migration through Mexico; yet the relationships between migrants’ lived experiences of such policies and their mental health remains unstudied in the psychological literature. The study will consist of 150 surveys and interviews with Spanish-speaking migrants living in Tijuana, México. Aims include: 1) quantitatively analyze the relationships between contextual characteristics, policy factors (temporal, spatial, and systemic violence) and mental health outcomes to identify protective and risk factors; 2) qualitatively explore distress and wellbeing in transit from migrants’ perspectives to identify adaptive strategies already being used to build meaningful lives despite stress in transit. Project MARIPOSA will contribute to the field of peace studies by examining temporal and spatial violence during migration as well as the nascent psychological literature on transit and ultimately deliver actionable insights from people who are migrating to policy makers, practitioners, and researchers.
