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Maltreatment and youth self-representations in residential care: the moderating role of individual and placement variables
Publication . Calheros, M. M.; Silva, Carla; Patrício, Joana Nunes
The objective of this study was to explore the effects of previous maltreatment on current self-representations
(i.e., the attributes used to describe oneself) of youth in residential care and the moderating role of gender, age,
number of previous placements and length of placement in residential care. The sample was composed of 809
adolescents and youths in residential care. The youth completed the self-representation questionnaire for youths
in residential care (SRQYRC). In order to analyze the impact of previous maltreatment on self-representation,
retrospective accounts of previous maltreatment experiences were used, and a set of multiple regression analyses
were conducted. Results of multiple regressions suggest previous experiences of maltreatment contribute to
youth’s self-representations. Specifically, youth that experienced sexual abuse reported higher levels of negative
self-representations (i.e., negative valence attributes, such as aggressive, sad, misfit, neglected) while youth that
experienced physical and psychological abuse, emotional and educational maltreatment, and neglect in terms of
physical provision reported less positive self-representations (i.e., positive valence attributes, such as nice, intelligent, cherished). Some of these associations were moderated by gender, age, number and length of placements in residential care. These results underline that the type of maltreatment has a differential impact on
youth’s self-representation dimensions and that placement stability (i.e., without moving the youth other residential care placements), and the continuity of care in the same residential care unit may protect the selfrepresentations of youth with previous experiences of abuse and neglect.
The social image of families of children and youth in residential care: a characterization and comparison with mainstream families with different socioeconomic status
Publication . Patrício, Joana; Lopes, Diniz; Garrido, M. V.; Calheros, M. M.
The literature suggests that families of children and youths in residential
care are often associated with negative social images. These images may
shape prejudiced attitudes and behavior toward them and, when shared
by care professionals, compromise the effectiveness of family intervention
and reintegration. This study explored these social images in a sample of
176 participants with and without professional contact with this population.
Participants were asked to indicate five attributes describing families of
children or youths living in residential care or in mainstream environments
with low or medium socioeconomic status (SES). Results indicated that both
families of children and youths in residential care and families of low SES were predominantly described with negative attributes. However, only the former
were characterized by dysfunctional parenting-related attributes. Medium
SES families were overall described with positive attributes. Furthermore,
these social images were organized in different profiles. Implications for
family intervention and reintegration are discussed
Social support as a moderator of associations between youths' perceptions of their social images and self-representations in residential care
Publication . Calheros, M. M.; Patrício, Joana Nunes; Silva, Carla
This study explored the associations between the perceptions that youth in residential care have about their
social images (i.e., their perceptions of how other people in general perceive them) and their self-representations,
and the moderating role of social support from residential caregivers and friends in those associations. A sample
of 926 youths in residential care, aged between 12 and 25 years old, filled out self-report questionnaires tapping
their perceptions of their social images, self-representations, and perceived social support. Results indicated that
positive youths’ perceptions of their social images were associated to youth’s positive self-representations, and
that negative youths’ perceptions of their social images dimensions were associated to youth’s negative selfrepresentation dimensions. Results also indicated that support from the main residential caregiver and friends
moderated associations between youth’s perceptions of their social images and self-representations, functioning
as a protective factor. These findings underline the importance of youth’s perceptions of their social images and
the support from residential caregivers and friends for youth in residential care.
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Entidade financiadora
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Programa de financiamento
Projetos de Investigação Científica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico - 2012
Número da atribuição
PTDC/MHC-PSC/4122/2012