Students from migrant backgrounds in Italian schools: the role of socialisation agents on their psychological and academic adaptation

This dissertation investigated the influence of socialisation experiences, especially those related to family and school, in the adaptation processes of young students, particularly students from migrant backgrounds. Overcoming deficit-oriented perspectives, particular emphasis was placed on the individual and contextual factors that promote and/or protect adolescents' well-being and positive adaptation. In particular, parental influences, teacher-student and peer relationships, in interaction with individual student characteristics, were the focus of three studies conducted in different upper secondary schools in Italy. The results confirmed the importance of "significant others" in the adaptation processes of all students, especially those from migrant backgrounds.