Migration : destruction and reconstruction of the self

Attachment experiences in early childhood assist development of mental representations of the self and others. However significant life changes like migration, disrupt attachment patterns formed during the developmental process with families and significant others. Though plasticity enables human beings to adapt to new situations, these variations bring immense stress on individuals. The present study explored attachment styles and loneliness narratives of migrant university students ( N = 25). Both quantitative and qualitative measures were employed. Loneliness narratives (N = 8) insinuate rich themes linked to migratory experience, a revelation of a journey from the known to the unknown, from the destruction of the self to the reconstruction of the self.