Confiding in others: exploring the experiences of young people who have been in care

Abstract

<jats:p> In the general population, confiding is typically associated with increased well-being, reduced distress and strengthened relationships. However, there is a lack of research exploring the role of confiding among young people who have been in the care system. The current study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to guide the analysis of semi-structured interviews with eight young people with a range of care experiences, looking at the topic of confiding in others. Five themes emerged from the data analysis that indicated difficulties with confiding related to: holding unacceptable identities that are difficult to reveal to others; holding anticipations and expectations that confiding leads to harm; experiencing internal conflict between wanting to be open versus wanting to remain closed; and varying opportunities to develop trusted, confiding relationships across different environments within the care system. The findings suggest a need for safe, secure and stable care placements that can support the potential development of trusted confiding relationships wherein young people may be able to develop greater attachment security, and the capacity to build safe, supportive and trusted relationships through their lives. Implications for practice are discussed. </jats:p>

Improving the mental health and mental health support available to adolescents in out-of-home care via Adolescent-Focused Low-Intensity Life Story Work: a realist review

“…Forty-three documents contributed to the development of these CMOCs 7 19–21 27 34 37 38 40 41 46–49 52–55 59–81. Difficulties in establishing and maintaining trusting relationships was a main theme.…”

“…Difficulties in establishing and maintaining trusting relationships was a main theme. Adolescent-Focused LI-LSW should provide a platform to engage in positive activities between caring adults and adolescents, encouraging one-to-one time together and increasing communication 7 19 27 34 37–39 47 60–64. These shared activities should encourage increased communication between the adolescent and caring adults, strengthening relationships and helping to grow trust and a therapeutic alliance between the adolescent and caring adult(s).…”

“…Forty-four documents contributed to the development of these CMOCs 18–22 26 27 34–39 41 42 45 46 48 49 52–55 57 59 63 65 68 69 71 74 77–79 83–92. The review shows narratives most valued by adolescents were constructed collaboratively with caring adult support.…”

“…Young people seemed to trust relationships where others would sensitively listen to their confidences, whilst remaining unconditionally accepting of them as a person… . 63 …”

“…The caring adult(s) and adolescent discuss these, helping the adolescent to process and consolidate their experiences. This in turn serves to generate positive future expectations and helps a therapeutic alliance develop between adolescent and caring adult(s) 7 27 37 38 47 49 61–63 84–86 88…”