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‘To talk or not to talk?’: Foster youth's experiences of sharing stories about their past and being in foster care

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  • Steenbakkers, Anne
  • van der Steen, Steffie
  • Grietens, Hans

Abstract

Sharing stories about the past and about being in care, can help adolescents placed in foster families to make meaning of their experiences and connect with their conversation partner. However, what obstacles and opportunities for sharing stories are experienced by foster youth has not been researched, while this holds important implications for research and practice. In an episodic interview, thirteen adolescents and young adults (16–23years) talked about their experiences with sharing their memories about their past and being in foster care. Using a thematic analysis, two themes were constructed, each containing three sub-themes. The theme ‘When’ included references to the prerequisites for talking and considerations made by participants, and contained the sub-themes ‘How often do I talk’, ‘Conditions’ and ‘Ownership of my story’. The theme ‘Why’ included references to the rationales for sharing or not sharing memories, which contained the sub-themes ‘Protection’, ‘Understanding’ and ‘Processing the past’. The stories of the participants highlight both the opportunities and obstacles for talking. Foster parents and foster care workers should be aware of the needs foster youth have with regard to conversations about their experiences and should try to facilitate the meaning-making processes, although some foster youth prefer managing their memories in a more private way.

Suggested Citation

  • Steenbakkers, Anne & van der Steen, Steffie & Grietens, Hans, 2016. "‘To talk or not to talk?’: Foster youth's experiences of sharing stories about their past and being in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 2-9.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:71:y:2016:i:c:p:2-9
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.10.008
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Watson, Debbie L. & Latter, Sandra & Bellew, Rebecca, 2015. "Adopted children and young people's views on their life storybooks: The role of narrative in the formation of identities," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 90-98.
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    Cited by:

    1. Haight, Wendy & Cho, Minhae & Soffer-Elnekave, Ruth & Nashandi, Ndilimeke J.C. & Suleiman, Johara, 2022. "Moral injury experienced by emerging adults with child welfare histories in developmental and sociocultural contexts: “I knew the system was broken.”," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    2. Steenbakkers, Anne & van der Steen, Steffie & Grietens, Hans, 2019. "How do youth in foster care view the impact of traumatic experiences?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 42-50.
    3. Miller, Rebecca & Blakeslee, Jennifer & Ison, Chanel, 2020. "Exploring college student identity among young people with foster care histories and mental health challenges," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    4. Van Holen, Frank & Clé, Ann & West, Delphine & Gypen, Laura & Vanderfaeillie, Johan, 2020. "Family bonds of foster children. A qualitative research regarding the experience of foster children in long-term foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).

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