Parejas y matrimonios mixtosaspectos sociales y psicosociales de su configuración y desarrollo

Abstract

Following the findings of significant numbers of foreigners in our country as a result of migratory processes of the last decade, the evolution in the immigrant profile has manifestedin a number of studies from the eighties to the present day. This demographic adjustments our society has brought forth the need to examine the origins of processes and their consequences, and in addition to understand the formation of new interpersonal relationships as other types of families linked to immigration, despite population decline in Spain for the past three years. Therefore, our objective is to understand the migratory phenomenon in Spain and Andalusia, specifically the social and psychosocial aspects of the configuration and development of the mixed couples and their children.Research was conductedusing micro-data files from the National Institute of Statistics (INE, hereinafter) on marriages and births from Vital Statistics for the period between 2000 and 2011. Since the thesis presented develops as a compendium of publications, as a result three scientific journaiarticies that meet the objectives have been included. To further understand the study phenomenon, work done over the years of doctoral study adds value along herein. The first article focuses its information on the statistics of marriages for the period of 2000-2008 in Spain, while the next two on birth statistics. The purpose of the second study is mixedcouples consisting of at least one Romanian member, while on the third foreign teenagemothers, for which a legal analysis on the phenomenon has been included. Mixed marriages in Spain account for 15.33% of the total unions, of which Catalonia (23.6%), Madrid(15.7%), Valencia (12.7%) and Andalusia (12.4%) present the highest numbers. While marriages between Spaniards has been decreasing over the years with an average loss for the period in question of -3.2%, mixed couples have accumulated a growth of 8.1% between2000 and 2011. In Andalusia, 7.5% of marriages were held with at least one foreign spouse. The geographical distribution is quite heterogeneous across its provinces, highlighting the case of Malaga were 32.3% of the celebrations were held, and Seville with 17% ofthem. In regards to birth in Spain, two out of ten come from mixed couples. In Andalusia, the average birth rate of these unions is 10.4%. Of all children of couples in which at leastone parent is a foreigner in Spain, two in ten come from this Autonomous Community. In addition, foreign mothers, both at a national and regional context, are younger in chiidbirth and marriage. Neither marriage nor the birth rate reality in Spain and Andalusia can be understoodwithout taking into account contributions made by foreigners living in our territory.