There has been a record surge of unaccompanied immigrant minors (UAMs) entering the United States, with 86% of those apprehended at the US‐Mexico border originating from the Central American countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. A majority of immigrant children are separated from either one or both parents at various points during the migration process. Although average separations last 4 or more years, and may be deeply distressing, there is little research on family separations among Central American UAMs. Further, little is known about the developmental impact of separations from extended family networks, or about reunification. To address these empirical gaps, this study used community‐participatory qualitative methods to deeply explore the lived experiences and emotional repercussions of family separation and reunification. The sample included 42 adolescents who had all recently migrated to the Western United States from Central America. Thematic analyses revealed that separation experiences are distressing, multifaceted, and have important developmental implications for Central American UAMs. Results illustrate the socioemotional toll that family separation and reunification can have on this vulnerable population, and highlight the need for culturally responsive, developmentally informed, and contextually appropriate care focused on family reunification in order to foster healthy psychosocial adjustment among UAMs.

中文翻译：

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“Se extraña todo：”中美洲无人陪伴青少年移民的家庭分离和团聚经历

进入美国的无人陪伴未成年移民 (UAM) 激增，其中 86% 在美墨边境被捕的人来自萨尔瓦多、危地马拉和洪都拉斯等中美洲国家。大多数移民儿童在移民过程中的不同阶段与父母之一或双方分开。尽管平均分离时间持续 4 年或更长时间，并且可能令人深感痛苦，但很少有关于中美洲 UAM 之间家庭分离的研究。此外，人们对与大家庭网络分离或重新团聚的发展影响知之甚少。为了解决这些经验差距，本研究使用社区参与的定性方法来深入探讨家庭分离和团聚的生活经历和情感影响。样本包括 42 名最近从中美洲移居美国西部的青少年。专题分析表明，分离经历令人痛苦、多方面，并且对中美洲 UAM 具有重要的发展意义。结果说明了家庭分离和团聚可能对这一弱势群体造成的社会情感损失，并强调需要以家庭团聚为重点的文化响应、发展知情和情境适当的护理，以促进 UAM 之间的健康心理社会适应。并对中美洲 UAM 具有重要的发展意义。结果说明了家庭分离和团聚可能对这一弱势群体造成的社会情感损失，并强调需要以家庭团聚为重点的文化响应、发展知情和情境适当的护理，以促进 UAM 之间的健康心理社会适应。并对中美洲 UAM 具有重要的发展意义。结果说明了家庭分离和团聚可能对这一弱势群体造成的社会情感损失，并强调需要以家庭团聚为重点的文化响应、发展知情和情境适当的护理，以促进 UAM 之间的健康心理社会适应。