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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.
Organizational social context and psychopathology of youth in residential care: The intervening role of youth caregiver relationship quality
Publication . Silva, Carla; Calheros, M. M.; Carvalho, Helena; Magalhães, Eunice
Drawing on an ecological approach with multiple
informants, this study investigated the mediating role
of youth–caregiver relationship quality in associations
between different features of residential care settings'
organizational social context and youth's psychopathology. Participants were 378 youth aged between 12 and
25 years old, and 54 caregivers aged between 24 and
57 years old, from 29 generalist residential youth care
settings in Portugal. Given the hierarchical structure of
data, analyses were performed using multilevel modeling. Results revealed that organizational social contexts
characterized by higher levels of engagement, stress,
and centralization, as perceived by the caregivers, were
associated with lower levels of youth's externalizing
problems (e.g., aggressive behavior and delinquency),
reported by the caregivers, via better youth–caregiver
relationship quality, perceived by the youth in care.
These findings highlight the relevance of creating an
organizational social context in residential care settings
that supports caregivers in establishing high-quality
relationships with the youth in care, thereby promoting
their mental health. This study contributes to the
clarification of conflicting findings in previous studies of this field, by offering further empirical investigation
of these issues.
Friendship Quality and Mental Health of Youth in Residential Care: The Moderating Role of Individual and Contextual Variables.
Publication . Calheiros, M M; Rodrigues, Ana Filipa; Camilo, Cláudia; Silva, Carla
Background: Supportive relationships provide positive afect and a sense of belonging,
which enable positive mental health outcomes.
Objective: This study examines the association between the quality of the relationship of
youth in Residential Care (RC) with their best friend and their mental health, considering
the moderator role of gender and age and the context of friendship (in/outside RC) in these
associations.
Method: Participants were 752 youth (46.4% girls), aged 11–25 years (M=16.19,
SD=2.25), and their main caregiver. Youth flled out the Network of Relationships Inventory to evaluate their relationship quality with their best friend through six conceptually
distinct, though interrelated, dimensions (companionship, intimate self-disclosure, emotional support, satisfaction, confict and criticism), while their main residential caregiver
completed the Child Behaviour Checklist (internalizing and externalizing problems).
Results: Younger youth with higher levels of perceived emotional support have fewer internalizing problems, compared to older youth. Boys with higher perceived companionship
are described as having lower levels of internalizing problems compared to girls. Girls with
higher perceived intimate disclosure are described as having lower levels of internalizing
problems, compared to boys. And girls with higher perceived confict are described as having higher levels of externalizing problems, compared to boys.
Conclusions: The fndings add to existing evidence on the association between quality
friendship relationships and youth’s mental health, by highlighting the moderating role of
youth’s age and gender in that associations.
Youth's self-construction in the context of residential care: The looking-glass self within the youth-caregiver relationship
Publication . Silva, Carla; Calheros, M. M.
Youth in residential care typically struggle to construct a positive sense of self, given their often highly adverse
life experiences. However, the processes that explain youth’s self-representations process in residential care have
not been systematically analyzed. Based on the symbolic interactionism theory, this study addressed this gap in
the literature by testing the Looking Glass Self Hypothesis (LGSH) in this development context within the
relationship between youth and their main residential caregiver. Participants were 755 youth from 71 residential
care units in Portugal, 12–25 years old, and their respective main caregiver (N = 300). Through a multi-mediator
model, we examined whether caregivers’ actual appraisals of the youth in care were associated with youth’s selfrepresentations via caregivers’ reflected appraisals (i.e., youth’s perceptions of their main caregiver’ appraisals
of them). Results supported the LGSH in the context of youth-caregiver relationships in residential care,
emphasizing the important role of residential caregivers in youth’s self-construction process.
The youth-caregiver relationship quality in residential youth care: Professionals perceptions and experiences
Publication . Magalhães, Eunice; Ferreira, Margarida; Ornelas, Sandra; Silva, Carla; Camilo, Cláudia; Calheros, M. M.
This study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of professionals working in
residential care (RC) settings (i.e., caregivers and directors) about youth-caregiver relationship quality (YCRQ). Method: A qualitative study was developed in Portugal including 15 caregivers (73.3% women, 23–50 years) and 15 directors (73.3% women, 34–
45 years) working in 18 generalist RC units. Data were collected through six focus groups
using a semi-structured interview script. Data were analyzed following a content analysis
approach using NVIVO 12 software. Results: Our findings revealed that the concept of
YCRQ in RC was mainly described in terms of good qualities, and the organizational
determinants of YCRQ relationships were most mentioned both by caregivers and
directors (i.e., organizational social context, intervention models and strategies). Individual characteristics of youth and staff were less described as determinants of YCRQ.
These findings provide important insights for practice. Conclusions: efforts should be
made to design interventions in RC that aim to improve its organizational social climate so
as to provide caregivers with the necessary support and resources that enable them to
enhance positive YCRQ.
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Entidade financiadora
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Programa de financiamento
Concurso para Financiamento de Projetos de Investigação Científica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Todos os Domínios Científicos - 2017
Número da atribuição
PTDC/CED-EDG/30373/2017