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- Women’s experiences of immigration detention in Italy: Examining immigration procedural fairness, human dignity, and healthPublication . Esposito, Francesca; Di Martino, Salvatore; Briozzo, Erica; Arcidiacono, Caterina; Ornelas, JoséRecent decades have witnessed a growing number of states around the world relying on border control measures, such as immigration detention, to govern human mobility and control the movements of those classified as “unauthorised non-citizens.” In response to this, an increasing number of scholars from several disciplines, including psychologists, have begun to examine this phenomenon. In spite of the widespread concerns raised, few studies have been conducted inside immigration detention sites, primarily due to difficulties in gaining access. This body of research becomes even scanter when it comes to the experiences of detained women. This study is the first of its kind to have surveyed 93 women confined in an Italian immigration detention facility. A partial mediation model with latent variables was tested through partial least structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings revealed the negative impact that unfair immigration procedures have on detained women’s human dignity, which in turn negatively affects their self-rated physical and mental health. Overall, our study sheds light on the dehumanisation and damage to human dignity that immigration detention entails, as well as its negative impact on the health of those affected. This evidence reinforces the image of these institutions as sites of persistent injustice, while stressing the need to envision alternative justice-oriented forms to address human mobility
- Multiculturalism in dominant ethnic populations: A transnational profile analysisPublication . Rochira, Alessia; Verbena, Serena; Briozzo, Erica; De Simone, Evelyn; Esposito, Francesca; Garrido, Rocío; Ramirez Garcia, Manuel; Paloma, Virginia; Vargas-Moniz, M.; Mannarini, TerriFollowing a person-centered approach, the present study investigates support for multiculturalism of dominant ethnic members. Using Latent Profile Analysis, the current investigation aimed to identify subgroups of dominant ethnic participants and examine potential difference in their endorsement of multiculturalism towards subaltern ethnic groups. Based on the existing literature, subgroups of dominant members were identified along with the combination of multiple obstacles (i.e., national identity and intolerance) and resources (i.e., positive intergroup contact, psychological resilience and universalism) towards the endorsement of multiculturalism. Findings from a transnational sample of individuals (N. 636) across three Southern European Countries (i.e., Italy, Portugal and Spain) yielded five distinct profiles (i.e., Cosmopolitans, Glocals, Parochials, Resilient Intolerants and Disengaged). Also, they indicated that the identified subgroups differed on patterns of key psychosocial variables and degree of endorsement of multiculturalism. The majority of the sample (Cosmopolitans, Glocals and Disegnaged) show high level of multiculturalism, despite interesting differences characterized the distribution of the profiles across the three countries: the more intolerant profiles (Parochials and Resilient Intolerants) were prevalent in Italy. Contrarily to our expectations, national identity was not exclusionary per se, as has been reported elsewhere. Rather, depending on its combination with other key variables, it worked either as an obstacle or as a resource towards the support for multiculturalism of dominant ethnic members. Potential contributions of Latent Profile Analysis for an in depth understanding of multiculturalism and implications for interventions are discussed.
- Ecology of sites of confinement: everyday life in a detention center for illegalized non-citizensPublication . Esposito, Francesca; Ornelas, José; Briozzo, Erica; Arcidiacono, CaterinaDrawing on almost 3 years of fieldwork, comprising qualitative interviews and ethnographic observations, this study provides an exploration into the detention of illegalized non-citizens in Italy. Taking the largest detention center as a case study, the fabric of everyday life and the lived experiences of people, both detainees and professional actors, are the focus of examination. An ecological community psychology framework, with a focus on justice, guided the data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Findings highlight the oppressive qualities of detention, and its ripple effects on people's life spaces. Scarcity of resources, activities, and information created a very distressing environment for detainees, also enhancing feelings of powerlessness and frustration in professionals willing to assist them. Uncertainty and instability, rather than coercion or discipline, emerged as modes of governing and dominating. Bound in a different space and time, detainees were turned into unwanted and expendable others, their confinement becoming a means to extract profit from them. Yet, people languishing in these sites displayed an extraordinary ability to cope with, resist, and challenge the persisting conditions of injustice they endured. We conclude by highlighting the potential of the proposed framework, and discussing broader implications of our findings and avenues for research and action.
- Critical insights on social connections in the context of resettlement for refugees and asylum seekersPublication . Briozzo, Erica; Vargas-Moniz, M.; Ornelas, JoséResettlement ofers a “safe solution” for people who have experienced displacement. Nevertheless, refugees face additional challenges once resettled, including the erosion of their social fabric and the disruption of refugee communities. Therefore, social connections are crucial in resettlement. So far, the literature on social connections has focused on their functions (e.g., social support) and neglected this concept to the detriment of its meaning and related factors, so an in-depth exploration of social connections is necessary, especially in the problematic context of resettlement. To this end, 41 articles published between 2011 and 2022 and conducted with refugees and asylum seekers in resettlement contexts, were identifed through searches in MEDLINE, Scopus, Google Scholar, and PsycINFO. The aim of this scoping review is to identify potentially broad literature on social connections in resettlement to provide an understanding of how refugees engage in social connections during this process. Four main social connections in the resettlement context emerged: (a) connections within the immediate community, (b) transnational connections, (c) connections with the mainstream community, and (d) connections with services. The results confrm the need to better explore how social connections impact refugees’ experiences in resettlement and to grasp their political meaning in resettlement contexts.