Socio-emotional Disturbances of Left behind Young Adults in Calabar Municipal in Cross River State,
Nigeria
Chukwu Nma-Njoku Alexandr, Onuoha Chima Emmanuel
Globally, millions of people are migrating, and the number of left-behind children is likely to increase in most developing countries due to population buildup. This study explores the socio-emotional life disturbances of leftbehind young adults. It also employs family life cycle theory to understand the dangers associated with family member's absences and finally explores their implications for social work practice. A qualitative research method was adopted in the study. An in-depth interview (IDI) was utilized to elicit data from 20 participants who were left-behind young adults aged 18 to 25 whose parents are international migrants. The participants were obtained using a multi-staged sampling procedure that includes purposive sampling, simple random, referral, and availability sampling techniques. Findings indicated that the absence of parents in the lives of young people due to international migration could render them vulnerable to negative peer-group influence, rape, poor academic performance, and drug use, among others. Also, loneliness, insecurity, and indebtedness were the socio-emotional life disturbances of young adults with international migrant parents within the study area. Social workers should enhance the social support system available to left-behind people in Nigeria. It is also advocated that the Nigerian government make a flexible migration policy to accommodate left-behind family members, especially young adults.
Keywords:International migration, Left behind, Younger adults, Socio-emotional, social workers
