An intersectional approach to the understandings of well-being of Latin American adolescent migrants living in Santiago-Chile

This study examines the understandings of well-being constructed by Latin American adolescent migrants living in Santiago, Chile, addressing a gap in research that has seldom examined South–South youth migration through an explicitly intersectional and qualitative lens. Despite growing recognition of children and adolescents as social agents in migration and well‑being research, limited empirical work has explored how identity constructions, symbolic representations, and social structures intersect in shaping subjective well‑being among migrant youth in Latin America, even though qualitative methodologies have played a crucial role in capturing the complexities of subjective well‑being, emphasizing multidimensional and contextually situated perspectives. Drawing on a qualitative design grounded in social constructionism, the study analyzes the perspectives of 11 Latin American adolescents (ages 11–17) with a minimum residence of one year in Santiago, Chile. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews complemented by participant‑produced photographs − used as tools to facilitate dialogue − and analyzed following Winker and Degele’s (2011) multilevel intersectional framework considering three analytical levels. Four core understandings of well‑being emerged: (1) identity negotiation and capacity building, whereby adolescents construct a positive sense of self through strategies of differentiation, belonging, and coping with migratory challenges; (2) subjective continuity and support from nuclear and extended family, which functions simultaneously as a protective and potentially conflictive relational space; (3) transnational reflexivity, expressed in critical comparisons between origin and destination contexts that shape perceptions of present and future life opportunities; and (4) inclusive praxis, encompassing the recognition and contestation of discriminatory practices, agency–driven strategies, the value of peer and adult relationships − particularly within schools − and the active pursuit of context‑specific strategies to “feel well” in the new local context. These findings underscore that adolescents’ well‑being is relational, dynamic, and deeply embedded in intersecting axes of inequality, including gender, racialization, migration markers, and socioeconomic conditions, illustrating how adolescents actively construct meanings and navigate their socio-spatial realities. The study advances well‑being research by integrating an intersectional multilevel approach within a South-South migratory context, offering empirically grounded insights for policies and interventions aimed at fostering inclusive environments and strengthening the agency and participation of migrant youth.