Self‐Protection in Adolescents in Foster Care

Abstract

PROBLEM: Adolescents in long-term foster care experience significant health and mental health problems. Little is known about their perceptions of the impact of foster care. METHOD: Seventeen adolescents were interviewed in their foster group homes. Dimensional analysis was used to develop theory on the impact of foster care. FINDINGS: Adolescents in foster care engaged in self-protection strategies secondary to experiences of devaluation and uncertainty in foster care, including guarding foster child status, maintaining a defensive posture, distancing self, and keeping relationships superficial. Self-protection resulted in a veneer of self-reliance and social detachment. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies are suggested to address devaluing experiences and promote positive identity development in foster care.