Sfide sociali e identitarie in adolescenti musulmani immigrati

[Autom. eng. transl.] The research conducted in the USA, New Zealand and Europe on young Arab and / or Muslim immigrants are mainly oriented to the analysis of the acculturation process: in them we underline the deep bond that these groups maintain with their own culture of origin and are described differently acculturation patterns that characterize the experience of the first and second generations born or immigrated in western countries (Britto, 2008; Sirin, Fine, 2008). Moreover, recent studies have highlighted some gender differences that characterize adolescent identity challenges and adaptive outcomes (Sirin et al., 2008; Stevens et al., 2004). The qualitative study, based on semi-structured individual interviews, explores the migratory experience of 39 adolescents (24 F, 15 M), aged between 14 and 18, immigrants in Italy following family reunification, religion Muslim and from Morocco (N = 13), Pakistan (N = 13) and Egypt (N = 13). In particular, the research analyzes - in the three national subgroups considered - the main identity contents emerging from the interviews and the in-group and out-group forms of social comparison connected to the representation of oneself. On verbal data - taken from the full transcripts of the interviews - a content analysis was carried out with the help of the Atlas.ti software 5.3. The preliminary results show a fragile and complex definition of identity in the young respondents, characterized by some elements: the weakness of identifications both ethnic and national, a prevalent characterization of oneself as an immigrant minority, accompanied by perceptions of social discrimination, isolation and solitude. The research also reveals the presence of areas subject to difficult cultural negotiation between the desire for independence and loyalty to the family culture, with some significant differences linked to gender and country of origin.