Between Necessity and Aspiration: Determinants of Internal and International Migration Intentions among Sardinian High School Students

This study explores migration propensity of high school students in an insular and peripheral context (Sardinia, Olbia-Tempio area) of Italy. By carrying out a survey to a sample of 343 students, the research investigates the determinants driving the propensity toward internal (mainland Italy) or international (abroad) mobility versus the choice to stay. Using three multinomial logistic regression models, the analysis reveals that international mobility is highly attractive (65.3% of the sample) and is significantly driven by gender (higher propensity among females) and subjective well-being (low levels of happiness drastically increase the odds of planning to emigrate). Propensity to internal mobility, on the other hand, appears more closely linked to a lack of support in the educational environment. Exploratory findings suggest that youth migration propensity should not be viewed merely as a mechanical response to structural economic constraints, but rather as a complex strategy for psychological and relational emancipation. The distinction between "compensatory" internal migration and "emancipation".