Dimensões do sofrimento psíquico em estudantes universitários estrangeiros / The dimentions of psychological suffering in foreign university students / Dimensiones del sufrimiento psíquico de estudiantes universitarios extranjeros

Os estudantes universitários estrangeiros fazem parte da categoria de imigrantes voluntários, que se desloca para realizar a formação superior em outro país. O processo imigratório acarreta uma série de desafios e não deixa de ter consequências no psiquismo dos sujeitos. Dessa forma, objetivou-se apresentar e discutir características do sofrimento psíquico desses estudantes estrangeiros residentes em Florianópolis. Para tanto, produziu-se uma pesquisa qualitativa na qual os dados foram coletados a partir de entrevistas semiestruturadas com 15 participantes. Os dados foram analisados por meio da técnica de análise de conteúdo, com suporte do software Atlas.ti. Assim, foi possível distinguir três subcategorias de análise: sintomas físicos, sociais e psicológicos. Observou-se um alto índice de somatizações, experiências de discriminação e relatos de sentimento de não pertencimento. Em conclusão, ressalta-se a necessidade de se refletir sobre formas de amenizar o sofrimento e de pensar em programas específicos para essa população, principalmente no contexto universitário.

Foreign university students are a part of the category of voluntary immigrants, who travel with the objective of completing higher education in another country. The immigration process entails a series of challenges and has consequences in the psyche of these individuals. Thus, the objective here is to present and discuss characteristics of the psychological suffering of these foreign students living in Florianópolis. For that, a qualitative research was conducted; the data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 participants. For data analysis we used the technique of content analysis, supported by the Atlas.ti software. It was distinguished three subcategories of analysis: physical, social and psychological symptoms. It was observed a high index of somatizations, experiences of discrimination and reports of feelings of non-belonging. In conclusion, it is necessary to reflect on ways to soften the suffering and to thinking about specific programs for this population, especially in the university context.

Los estudiantes universitarios extranjeros forman parte de la categoría de inmigrantes voluntarios que se desplaza para realizar su educación superior en otro país. El proceso inmigratorio conlleva a una serie de desafíos, así como a consecuencias en el psiquismo de estos individuos. el objetivo de este trabajo constituye en presentar y discutir las características del sufrimiento psíquico de los estudiantes extranjeros que residen en Florianópolis. Para ello, se ha realizado una investigación cualitativa, en la cual, han sido recolectados datos a través de entrevistas semi-estructuradas con 15 participantes. Los datos han sido analizados por medio de la técnica de análisis de contenido, con soporte del software Atlas.ti. Así, ha sido posible distinguir tres subcategorías de análisis: síntomas físicos, sociales y psicológicos. Se ha observado un alto índice de somatizaciones, experiencias de discriminación y relatos de sentimientos de no pertenecer. En conclusión, se resalta la necesidad de reflexionar acerca de formas de disminuir el sufrimiento y de considerar programas específicos para esta población, principalmente en el contexto universitario.

Estrategias de aculturación y adaptación psicológica y sociocultural de estudiantes extranjeros en la Argentina / Acculturation strategies and psychological and sociocultural adaptation of foreign students in Argentina

Sobre la base del modelo de Berry se diseñó un estudio que tenía como objetivo analizar las estrategias aculturativas empleadas por un grupo de estudiantes extranjeros que habían migrado para realizar estudios universitarios en la Argentina. Se analizó el grado de éxito alcanzado en la implementación de dichas estrategias analizando la adaptación psicológica, la sociocultural, la académica, la satisfacción vital y la discriminación percibida. Se tomó en cuenta la perspectiva del migrante y la de los miembros de la cultura huésped. Participaron del estudio dos muestras de estudiantes universitarios (125 estudiantes extranjeros de diferentes carreras universitarias y 121estudiantes universitarios argentinos). Los instrumentos utilizados fueron los siguientes: las formas real e ideal de la Encuesta de Estrategias Aculturativas de Berry (1997), una escala de discriminación percibida y para examinar las medidas de adaptación, se administraron escalas de adaptación sociocultural y de adaptación académica diseñadas ad-hoc y la Escala de Satisfacción con la Vida (Diener, Emmons, Larsen & Griffin, 1985). Los resultados señalan que la estrategia preferida es la integración y la menos utilizada, la de marginalización. Tanto la percepción del migrante como la del estudiante huésped coinciden con respecto al uso de la estrategia aculturativa preferida, coincidiendo las percepciones tanto del propio sujeto en proceso de aculturación como la de los miembros de la cultura receptora. La integración es la estrategia que trae mejores resultados adaptativos. Aquellos que optaron por el estilo integrativo, eran los migrantes que percibían mayor satisfacción con la vida y un mejor ajuste a la vida académica en general.

At present the number of foreign university student is one of the largest in modern history. It has been characterized as those who reside voluntarily and temporarily abroad in order to participate in educational exchange with the intention of returning to their country once they have achieved the purpose of their trip. These kinds of student have been classified as sojourners (temporary residents) and they are people who migrate from one cultural context for a relatively long time (6 months to 5 years). In the last decade Argentina start hosting a large amount of foreign university students, attracted by the language, the favorable economic conditions and the prestige of universities in Latin America. University students have to deal with a psychological phenomenon called acculturation and it is the process of psychological and cultural change resulting from intercultural contact. Adaptation to this event can be either psychological or cultural. The psychological is related to the well-being experienced as a result of cultural contact. Cultural adaptation involves the implementation of social skills needed to function effectively within a complex cultural environment. Based on acculturation Berry´s model a study was designed to test the acculturative strategies applied by a group of foreign students who had migrated to carry on university studies in Argentina. Berry propose two separate dimensions: (1) immigrants feel their cultural identity and customs as valuable enough to keep them in the host society (maintenance) and (2) relationships with other people or groups in society are truly valuable to identified and encouraged (participation). These dimensions lead to four acculturation strategies. (a) Integration: the migrant try to maintain their cultural heritage and also maintains contact with the dominant cultural group. (b) Assimilation: the individual does not retain their native culture and attempts to maintain contact only with dominant culture members. (c) Marginalization: occurs when the migrant has no interest or ability to pursue their native culture and it is unlikely to come into contact with the host culture. (d) Separation: this occurs when the migrant is able to maintain their original culture but avoid or cannot have interaction with the dominant group. We analyzed the degree of success achieved in implementing these strategies, assessing the psychological and sociocultural adjustment, academic achievement, life satisfaction, and perceived discrimination. It also was taken into account the perspective of the members of the host culture. This study involved two samples of university students (125 students of different nationalities and 121 Argentine university students). The instruments used were: Acculturative Strategies Survey (real and ideal forms - Berry, 1997), a scale of perceived discrimination, a psychological adjustment scale, a scale of adaptation sociocultural adaptation designed ad-hoc academic, and The Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985). The results indicate that the most preferred strategy is the integration and the least used was marginalization. The acculturation process is carried out taking into account aspects of both cultures. Perceptions of university students and members of the host culture are congruent. Integration is the strategy that brings better adaptive results. Migrants who opted for the integrative strategy perceived more life satisfaction and a better adjustment to academic life. By contrast, students who chose to retain only aspects relating to their cultural identity and avoid contact with the host culture (separation) are those with less sociocultural adaptation and also feel discriminated as a cultural group. Findings presented are important because the research using Berry´s model in Latin American population is scarce. There are also few investigations analyzing differential perceptions taking into account not only the point of view of the minority group (migrant population) but also the majority group (host culture).