TY - JOUR
T1 - Ideals and Reality
T2 - Perceptions of Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships Among Foster Youth
AU - Forenza, Brad
AU - Bermea, Autumn
AU - Rogers, Briana
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
PY - 2018/6/1
Y1 - 2018/6/1
N2 - Exploring romantic relationships is a hallmark of adolescence. As dating relationships are often new during this development trajectory, learning how to be in a relationship (e.g., learning healthy communication skills, etc.) is necessary to facilitate positive partnerships during the transition to adulthood. However, foster youth are a group routinely overlooked within the literature on developing positive and healthy relationships. This formative, exploratory study utilizes focus groups and in-depth interviews to understand foster youth perceptions of healthy and unhealthy dating relationships through a social learning theory lens. Findings explore foster youth perceptions of ideal relationships, the realities of their lived relational experiences, as well as the lessons learned that they would like to impart on future generations of foster youth. Implications for research, practice, and policy (e.g., the need for communication skill building, comprehensive sex and relationship education, as well as screenings for dating violence) are also explored.
AB - Exploring romantic relationships is a hallmark of adolescence. As dating relationships are often new during this development trajectory, learning how to be in a relationship (e.g., learning healthy communication skills, etc.) is necessary to facilitate positive partnerships during the transition to adulthood. However, foster youth are a group routinely overlooked within the literature on developing positive and healthy relationships. This formative, exploratory study utilizes focus groups and in-depth interviews to understand foster youth perceptions of healthy and unhealthy dating relationships through a social learning theory lens. Findings explore foster youth perceptions of ideal relationships, the realities of their lived relational experiences, as well as the lessons learned that they would like to impart on future generations of foster youth. Implications for research, practice, and policy (e.g., the need for communication skill building, comprehensive sex and relationship education, as well as screenings for dating violence) are also explored.
KW - Foster care
KW - Intimacy
KW - Positive youth development
KW - Risk behaviors
KW - Romantic relationships
KW - Social development
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85035310879&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10560-017-0523-3
DO - 10.1007/s10560-017-0523-3
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85035310879
SN - 0738-0151
VL - 35
SP - 221
EP - 230
JO - Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal
JF - Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal
IS - 3
ER -