Migrant minds, shifting selves: Navigating relationships and identity in internal migration

Title

Migrant minds, shifting selves: Navigating relationships and identity in internal migration

Creator

Chakshu Narayan, Akhila; Chakraborty, Rituparna

Description

Human migration brings about changes in personal, social, cultural, political, and economic facets of life. This study examined the pre-migratory and post-migratory contexts of emerging adults in India to explore their connection to the existing relationships at migration origin, and upcoming interactions at migration destination. A qualitative method was used to capture the subjective experiences of emerging adults from middle SES, who migrated for education or employment reasons from rural, semi-urban, or urban areas. The migration experiences of these 1829 year-old emerging adults were analyzed through the lens of the social-cognitive model of transference. Semi-structured interviews of 17 internal migrants were conducted to learn about their experience residing away from home. Data analysis revealed schemas concerning significant others interfering with their new relationships at migration destination. Narratives of attachment, support, and conflict shaped their new relationship and self-perception at the migration destination. 2026 Elsevier Ltd.

Source

International Journal of Intercultural Relations;Volume;112;Issue;;Article No.;102387;

Date

01-01-2026

Publisher

Elsevier Ltd

Subject

Emerging adults; Internal migration; Self-concept; Social-cognitive transference

Coverage

Chakshu Narayan A., School of Psychological Sciences, Christ University, WJM4+QF7, Campus Road, Bhavani Nagar, S.G. Palya, Karnataka, Bengaluru, 560029, India; Chakraborty R., School of Psychological Sciences, Christ University, WJM4+QF7, Campus Road, Bhavani Nagar, S.G. Palya, Karnataka, Bengaluru, 560029, India

Rights

Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library

Relation

ISSN: 1471767;

Format

online

Language

English

Type

Article

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2026.102387

https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105030341298?origin=resultslist