Browsing by Author "Rocha, Rebeca Fernandes Paes Pinto"
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- High mobility as an adverse experience during Third Culture Kids up bringingPublication . Rocha, Rebeca Fernandes Paes Pinto; Ferrajão, PauloA Third Culture Kid (TCK) is a child who accompanied their parents for a significant amount of time outside their passport country. TCKs grow up in a cross-cultural and highly mobile world (Pollock et al., 2017). Their identity is then molded by the interactions of the cultures they experienced, allowing them to form their unique "third culture". This study pretends to explore the mobility aspect of the TCK lifestyle and the consequences it has on one's life. A qualitative method was chosen and 12 Adult TCKs were interviewed. Interviews included the Mobility Chart and a drawing, both instruments that allowed a visualization, respectively, TCK's transitions and personal identity. Through the interviews' analyses seven themes were identified with two of them having subthemes: transitions (feelings, conflicts and stabilizing factors), relationships (family and friends), acculturation, losses, personal identity, belonging and impact of high mobility. The transitions experiences ranged from positive to negative. The TCKs' relationships, personal identity and belonging were influenced by the mobility they experienced. Every participant recognized that high mobility influenced their lives and who they are. The effects of growing up in a highly mobile world recognized by the participants were both negative (e.g., rules around friendships) and positive (e.g., career choice). This study purpose was to understand the high mobility experiences among TCKs and explore the possibility of it being an adverse experience during their childhood. However, the findings indicate a positive perception of high mobility's impact in both childhood and adulthood.