An Intersectional Approach to the Understandings of Well-Being of Latin American Adolescent Migrants Living in Santiago-Chile

Abstract

This study examines the understandings of well-being constructed by Latin American adolescent migrants living in Santiago, Chile, through an intersectional approach. Over the past decades, research on childhood, migration, and well-being has increasingly acknowledged children and adolescents as active social agents rather than passive subjects of adaptation. Within this framework, qualitative methodologies have played a crucial role in capturing the complexities of subjective well-being, emphasizing multidimensional and contextually situated perspectives.Employing a qualitative research design, this study examines the perspectives of 11 Latin American adolescents (ages 11–17) with a minimum residence of one year in Santiago, Chile. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews complemented by participant-selected photographs. The analysis follows the multi-level intersectional approach of Winker and Degele (2011), considering three analytical levels.Findings reveal four core understandings of well-being: (1) the development of a positive self-concept through processes of identity negotiation and resilience in response to migration-related challenges, (2) the role of nuclear and extended family as sources of continuity and support, (3) critical reflections on structural conditions in both the home and host countries, influencing perceptions of life quality and future aspirations, and (4) responses to discrimination, including identity negotiations, agency-driven strategies, among others.These results underscore the relational, dynamic, and context-dependent nature of well-being, illustrating how adolescents actively construct meanings and navigate their socio-spatial realities. The study contributes to the theoretical advancement of well-being research by integrating an intersectional perspective, offering insights for policies aimed at fostering inclusive and equitable environments for migrant youth.

Keywords: Adolescents, migration, subjective wellbeing, qualitative methodologies, intersectionality