Well-Being Outcomes for Youth and Home Caregivers: A Comparative Case Study of Families Facing Separation

• In Event: A Discussion on Enhancing Teachers' Understanding of Students' Diverse Family Systems

Abstract

The purpose of this comparative case study is to examine similarities and differences in wellbeing outcomes for youth and home caregivers facing varied forms of parent-child separation. This work compares the experience of two families, one undergoing a father’s military deployment and another undergoing a father’s incarceration. Through semi-structured interviews with the youth and home caregivers from each family and two rounds of thematic coding, the researchers identified a set of similarities and differences in holistic wellbeing outcomes within and between each pair. This study adds to emerging research in the broad field of separation within families across contexts and circumstances.

Authors

• Abigail Stephan, Clemson University

• Georgia Louise McKown, Clemson University