Social status held by children living in foster homes in a peer group with reference to peers and employees of foster homes

Straipsnyje aptariami skirtingomis sąlygomis (globos namuose ir pilnose šeimose) gyvenančių vaikų užimamo socialinio statuso bendraamžių grupėje ypatumai bei skirtumai. Taip pat pristatomi globotinių socialinio statuso bendraamžių grupėje ypatumai, globos namų darbuotojų požiūriu. Kiekybiniu tyrimu nustatyta, kad globos namų auklėtiniai tiek berniukai, tiek mergaitės dažniau užima negatyvų statusą bendraamžių grupėje nei vaikai, gyvenantys su abiem tėvais. Pokalbių su globos namų darbuotojais metu įžvelgiamos neigiamos jų nuostatos globotinių atžvilgiu bei jų ignoravimo mokykloje problemos. Taip pat kokybinio tyrimo rezultatai atskleidė globotinių bendravimo „savame rate“ paplitimo požymių, dažnesnį globos namų auklėtinių ryšių su savo aplinkos nei su bendraamžiais iš šeimų, palaikymą.Article discusses the peculiarities and differences of the social status of children and teenagers among their peers, who live under different conditions (in foster homes and full families). The characteristics of the social status of children from foster homes among their peers with reference to the employees of foster homes are also presented. The quantitative research determined that both the boys and the girls living in foster homes usually had a negative status in a peer group in comparison to those living with their parents. The discussions with the employees of foster homes revealed their negative attitude and ignorance towards children from foster homes. The results of the quantitative research showed that foster children tend to communicate "within their own circle", maintain closer relationship with their own environment rather than with those from full families. Recently the attention towards children living in foster homes and their adaptation in the society has increased considerably; hence, the status of children in a peer group as well as the quality of their relations has become a relevant problem. The Law on Education of the Republic of Lithuania (2003) states that a schoolchild has a right to learning in a psychologically and physically safe environment, which ensures mutual respect. However, children and teenagers (especially those living in unfavourable conditions) frequently occur at a risk zone to suffer discrimination in the society, especially at school, because of their social status, belonging to an asocial family or living in a foster home. Therefore, it is relevant to conduct research and analyze the problem and reasons of ostracism of children and teenagers, who live in unfavourable conditions, from a peer group. The aim of the research is to assess the social status of children living in foster homes in a peer group with reference to their peers and employees of foster homes. Qualitative and quantitative research was conducted in order to deal with the analyzed issue. The sample of the quantitative research consisted of two groups of children and teenagers (n = 135), out of whom 66 were children and teenagers living in foster homes and 69 from full families. While analyzing the peculiarities and differences of the social status of children and teenagers, who lived in different conditions (foster homes and full families), among their peers, a procedure of sociometric measurement was applied to identify their sociometric status. A child’s sociometric status in a group was calculated by defining the positive (popularity) and negative (unpopularity) status of the respondents in a peer group. The data of the quantitative research was processed employing methods of statistic description. Arithmetical means (V) and their standard deviations (SN) were calculated. The reliability of statistical data was assessed by Student (t) criterion. The discourses of the opinion of children living in foster homes regarding their status in a peer group were revealed through the qualitative research using semi-structured interviews. 17 employees from foster homes were interviewed during quantitative research following the questions designed in advance following the scientific approach, research problem and theoretical context. Having evaluated the social status of children, who lived in foster homes, in a peer group, the obtained results of the quantitative research showed that children and teenagers living in a foster home tend to have a negative status in a peer group more frequently in comparison to those living in full families. The comparative analysis of research data in terms of gender revealed that both the boys and the girls from foster homes have a negative status among their peers more frequently in comparison to the boys and girls from full families. The qualitative research disclosed that children from foster homes are more likely to communicate in “their own circle” and maintain relationships within their own environment rather than with their peers from full families. The difficulties in communicating with the peers from full families usually arise due to the characteristics of children themselves, their unwillingness to communicate, self-doubt, fear of new activity or people, dissociation or even avoidance of them, limited possibilities of selecting friends and conviction that they are different from others. Discussion with the employees of foster homes demonstrated negative attitude and negligence towards the children. The educators acknowledged that the children in foster homes are frequently considered to have defects and provoke conflicts. It was recognized that the conception of a "difficult child", the teachers’ opinion and experience (usually negative), scarce projection of possible success and the attitude "nothing will become of him / her" are still valid at these schools. The teachers maintained that the involvement of the children into social situation would enhance the diapason of their communicative skills, the possibilities of their successful integration into the society and the development of the pro-social behavior model. The article emphasizes the significance of involving the members of the society, the peers of foster children and their parents into common activity with the aim of altering the negative attitude towards the children of foster homes as established in the society