Community Resilience in Addressing Trauma and Stressors: A Mixed-Method Analysis of Migration Processes in the Italian Context

Community resilience is a key construct for understanding the community dynamics that emerge in response to stressors including those to which forced and voluntary migrants are exposed throughout the migration process. The term is used in the literature to describe the ability of communities to adapt, resist and transform in the face of adversity by promoting individual well-being and preparedness for future stressful events (Norris et al., 2008; Quinn et al., 2020). In a global context of increasing migration flows, understanding how community resilience develops and influences the well-being of migrants becomes a central objective for research and social inclusion policies (Kirmayer et al., 2009). The present PhD project is situated within the theoretical framework of community psychology, a discipline that offers theoretical and practical tools to analyze interactions between individuals and contexts, with a particular focus on collective resources and participation processes (Mannarini & Rochira, 2014). Through an ecological approach, community psychology makes it possible to explore the role of social support and different community resilience factors in mitigating the negative effects of migration stress and promoting migrants' integration. This approach, which privileges the active involvement of social actors, is particularly appropriate for dealing with the complexity of contemporary migration. In recent years, Italy has been at the center of significant migration flows, including the Ukrainian refugee emergency following the conflict that began in 2022. This scenario has raised important questions regarding the ability of host communities to respond to the needs of refugees, fostering their integration and psychological well-being. Through a mixed methodology, this thesis explores how community resilience emerges as a protective strategy with respect to multiple migration-related stressors, while also considering the role of social support and enhancing the resources of the host context. The thesis is divided into five main chapters. Chapter one deals with the phenomenon of migration, with a focus on global and local implications, analyzing migration-related stressors and their effects on well-being and mental health. The second chapter explores the concept of community resilience by introducing the main theoretical models of reference and identifying the factors that promote it. The third chapter analyses the Italian context with a specific focus on Ukrainian refugees, examining reception policies and institutional and community responses to the migration emergency. The chapter focuses on the structural and operational challenges of the reception system and the importance of participatory approaches to promote integration. Chapter four presents the results of the four studies conducted, using different methodological approaches. Finally, chapter five integrates the results and proposes practical and theoretical implications, offering insights for future interventions and research on the topic. In conclusion, this thesis aims to contribute to the literature on community resilience, highlighting its central role in the migration context and providing an empirical basis for developing targeted interventions. In a historical moment characterized by rapid community change, the integration of theoretical and practical knowledge offered by the implementation of this project from a community psychology perspective is a key resource for addressing the challenges posed by migration and promoting communities capable of coping with stressful events.