I am an island: Exploring the Effect of Subjective Stability and Psychological Adaptations on the Later-Life Experiences and Outcomes of Care Leavers

我是一座岛屿：探索主观稳定性和心理适应对护理离开者晚年生活经历和结果的影响

• 批准号: 2279753
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of York
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2019 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2279753
• 关键词: am; island; Exploring; Effect; Subjective

OverviewMy proposed PhD aims to further academic understanding of the importance of stability in the later-life experiences and outcomes experienced by care leavers (people who have transitioned out of the foster care system) in England. The impetus for this work is the research recognising that despite the high level of service provision for this vulnerable group, care leavers still disproportionately suffer from poor life outcomes (in physical and mental health, family and intimate relationships, education, and employment) (Kelleher et al in Hayes, 2013). Significantly, studies show that 45% of children living in a foster care placement and 72% of children in residential care have a mental health disorder (Akister, Owens, & Goodyer, 2010). Research to date has defined stability as placement stability (the number of family placements experienced by a looked-after child (LAC)) and as continuity in social, educational, and other networks (Jackson & Thomas, 2000). This project will aim to move beyond the limitations of these definitions by considering how stability is experienced and understood by care leavers, how these experiences relate to the lives they lead as adults, and how a wider understanding of stability can inform policy and practice.Building upon the work carried out for my Master's degree dissertation, I not only aim to contribute to a wider understanding of stability, but also to explore how care-experienced individuals adapt to adversity, and so achieve a sense of subjective stability and "success." I want to understand how such adaptations can lead to costs in other areas of life.I aim to answer the following research questions: What are care leavers conceptualisations and experiences of 'subjective stability'? What conclusions can be drawn, about care leavers' perceptions and experiences of subjective stability, and their later-life experiences and outcomes? What can be understood about the positive adaptations care leavers make to achieve subjective stability and "success," and the effect these adaptations have on other life domains?MethodologyI intend to conduct approximately 25-30 narrative, semi-structured interviews with care leavers in their late 20s or early 30s, to ensure that all participants experienced a similar care system, conclusions can be reasonably drawn across narratives, and participants have had time to conceptualise the subjective stability they experienced while in care and their quality of life since. I will recruit through the care leavers I met during prior research (utilising referral sampling), local authority and charity connections, and pre-existing connections in the field held by researchers at The University of York.I will employ the narrative interview to provide my participants the agency to weave their own stories and make the links between their experiences and subjective stability as is most authentic to them. I will employ the semi-structured interview method to ensure that participants largely address my subject areas. I will recruit a sample from across England.Given my interest in participants' inner conceptualisations of subjective stability and the experiences they view as having determined their sense of stability, I will utilise a psycho-social epistemological approach. By recognising the "inner world" and "outer world" aspects of an individual's life narrative, I will gain a deeper understanding of my participants' experiences and perceptions of subjective stability.Given the sensitive nature of a background in care, my participants may experience discomfort during or after interviews. As such, I will provide time for discussion and offer information to external sources of support. Interviewing vulnerable individuals may also pose a risk to my own physical and emotional health, so I will inform my adviser and a family member of interview locations and will discuss any emotional difficulties with my supervisor.

概述我提出的博士学位旨在进一步学术理解的稳定性的重要性，在晚年的经验和护理离开者（谁已经过渡出寄养系统的人）在英格兰经历的结果。这项工作的推动力是研究认识到，尽管为这一弱势群体提供了高水平的服务，但护理离开者仍然不成比例地遭受不良生活结果（身心健康，家庭和亲密关系，教育和就业）（Kelleher等人，Hayes，2013年）。值得注意的是，研究表明，45%的寄养儿童和72%的寄宿儿童患有心理健康障碍（Akister，Owens和Goodyer，2010）。迄今为止的研究已经将稳定性定义为安置稳定性（照看儿童（LAC）经历的家庭安置数量）以及社会，教育和其他网络的连续性（杰克逊和托马斯，2000）。这个项目的目的是超越这些定义的局限性，考虑如何稳定是经验和理解的照顾离开者，这些经验如何与他们作为成年人的生活，以及如何更广泛地了解稳定可以告知政策和实践。在我的硕士学位论文进行的工作的基础上，我不仅旨在促进更广泛地了解稳定，同时也探索有护理经验的人如何适应逆境，从而获得主观上的稳定感和“成功感”。“我想了解这种适应如何导致生活其他领域的成本。我的目标是回答以下研究问题：护理离开者对”主观稳定“的概念化和体验是什么？可以得出什么结论，关于护理离开者的主观稳定性的看法和经验，以及他们以后的生活经验和结果？如何理解护理离开者为实现主观稳定和“成功”而做出的积极适应，以及这些适应对其他生活领域的影响？MethodologyI打算进行大约25-30叙事，半结构化访谈护理离开者在他们的20多岁或30岁出头，以确保所有参与者经历了类似的护理系统，结论可以合理地得出跨叙述，和参与者有时间概念化的主观稳定性，他们在护理和他们的生活质量，因为他们经历。我将通过我在之前的研究中遇到的护理离开者（利用推荐抽样），地方当局和慈善机构的联系，以及约克大学研究人员在该领域的现有联系进行招募。我将采用叙事访谈，为我的参与者提供编织自己故事的机构，并将他们的经历与主观稳定性联系起来，因为这对他们来说是最真实的。我将采用半结构化面试方法，以确保参与者主要涉及我的主题领域。我将从英格兰各地招募一个样本，考虑到我对参与者主观稳定性的内在概念化以及他们认为决定他们稳定感的经验的兴趣，我将利用心理社会认识论方法。通过识别个人生活叙事的“内心世界”和“外部世界”方面，我将更深入地了解参与者的经历和对主观稳定性的看法。鉴于护理背景的敏感性，我的参与者可能会在访谈期间或之后感到不适。因此，我将提供时间进行讨论，并向外部支持来源提供信息。采访弱势群体也可能对我自己的身体和情绪健康构成风险，因此我会将采访地点告知我的顾问和家人，并与我的主管讨论任何情绪问题。