Psychological Impacts of Forced Migration West-Sahrawi Refugees

This book examines the basic factors affecting West Sahrawi young refugees¿ lives and survival strategies in their situation of exile in the refugee camps of Tindouf, Algeria. The purpose is to answer the following questions: First, which are the main problems perceived by the youth born in the refugee camps? Second, which are their coping strategies and protective factors that help them to cope with their situation? The data has been collected through self-reports and open interviews with Sahrawi refugees and representatives of the Saharawi government in exile called "Frente Polisario". The obtained information has been analyzed from a phenomenological perspective with MCA-Minerva software. The results show that there is a strong perception among the Sahrawi youth community that they lack of power to influence their future, leading them to a hopeless situation that increases their external locus of control. These factors contribute to an increased level of anxiety and decreased motivation in facing their future. Yet their strong sense of collective Sahrawi identity helps them to deal with the strenuous conditions of life and works as a protective factor.