Poster #33 - Exploring the Psychological Experiences That Shape the Construction of Foster Youth’s Self-Narratives

• In Event: Poster Session 15

Abstract

Foster care involvement is often marked by being in a frequent state of disruption, disempowerment, and resilience (e.g., Mitchell, 2016). Although over 400,000 children are in foster care at any given time in the U.S. (Children’s Bureau, 2021), foster youth are a relatively understudied population, especially when it comes to their own meaning-making and developing their sense of self . There is a growing literature that calls for children’s meaning-making experiences to be used to better inform intervention and policies (Sabol et al., 2021), so understanding how these youth make meaning can provide insights on what supports may be most beneficial to them both in and out of foster care. The purpose of the present study was to understand what psychological experiences shape the construction of self-narratives in young adults who have been in foster care. The sample included nine women (18-24 years old) who had been in foster care at some point in their childhoods. The sample was diverse in terms of racial and ethnic identities, as well as education levels. Participants completed brief surveys and an interview regarding their background, foster care experiences, and hopes for the future. Data was coded and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Themes were created that reflected important experiences in the construction of self-narratives (see table for example quotes for each theme). The first theme captured how foster youth navigated upheaval and isolation in their interpersonal relationships. Learning where they fit with others and how others fit with them was a part of this ongoing navigation. The second theme focused on the inevitable ambiguity youth faced when trying to understand their past, present, and future. This included learning what can and cannot be accepted, as well as recognizing what questions may never be answered. The third theme encapsulated the process of managing dialectics throughout development, especially regarding adverse experiences. It was meant to elucidate how the evolving perspectives of foster youth are expansive and allow them to hold multiple truths at once, such as pain with growth. Finally, the fourth theme reflected how youth were shaped by their past to create their future. This included holding hope for their future, often with plans already made, despite barriers. While these themes are not exhaustive of the full process of self-narrative development, they do provide a starting point for understanding and empowering foster youth to own their stories. The primary implication of this study is that the unique developmental context of foster care shapes the self-narrative processes and meaning-making experiences of youth. This knowledge can inform interventions and policies in ways that are affirming of youth’s experiences.

Author

• Anna Wagner, Clark University
  Presenting Author