Family Life Space (FLS): Emerging Couple and Family Relations

International literature hasn’t underline enough role and function of couple in migration, although migration in Italy is a “family matter” that require a great involvement of the marital couple. How do immigrant couples ménage autonomy and freedom and the possibility of setting new and personal objectives, and at the same time deal with ambiguity, uncertainty and loneliness? The aim of the research is to explore the modalities of being and establishing a couple in a foreign land while investigating those factors and variables that, according to the literature on the topic, have proven to be crucial in determining and shaping the migration process. 33 immigrant couples from Morocco, Pakistan and the Philippines were administered Family Life Space, a qualitative graphic instrument useful in the clinical assessment and research with couples that allows to overcome linguistic barriers as well as to explore relational dynamics and interactive patterns underlying couple functioning. A k-means cluster analysis allowed the identification of five clusters. The variables considered play a significant role in the cluster formation in particular nationality and the fact of being able to connect the life in the hosting country to that in the country of origin significantly determine the grouping. Future transformations and projects and a “psychological couple center” are other important variables in the cluster formation. The FLS might be particularly helpful in identifying the stage the couple or family considered is going through in their immigration process as well as the possible problems family members might face during their journey towards integration. Lastly, the FLS proves to be a valuable and culture fair instrument with immigrants in both the research and the clinical setting.