Exploring the possible selves of young people in care in relation to their attachment to their caregivers

Abstract: In South Africa, 21 000 children are residing in Child and Youth Care Centres (CYCC). These young persons in care come from backgrounds that are filled with abuse and neglect. Children are removed from their home environments, and they enter care due to a variety of reasons like abuse and neglect. The goal of the CYCC is to improve the outcomes for these young persons in care (YPIC) after they have had such a difficult start in life. The CYCC must mimic their home environment and provide the safety and security that the home environment was supposed to offer the child so that the child can form a secure attachment to a new caregiver within the CYCC. The study aimed to explore the possible selves of YPIC in relation to the attachment that they have with caregivers within the CYCC. If we focus on the theoretical framework that guided the study the two theories that were used were: Attachment theory – this theory was developed by Bowlby and Ainsworth and describes an attachment as a close emotional bond that the child has with their caregiver. The other theory that guided the study is the theory of possible selves, the theory developed by Markus and Nurius, and describes the exploration of self-knowledge and motivation for behaviour. The study explored both the possible selves of the YPIC and their relationships with various caregivers within the CYCC – the aim was to better understand if the YPIC can form a strong attachment with caregivers within the CYCC and if this has an influence on their possible future selves. The research was a qualitative study with six teenagers between the ages of 15–19 residing in a CYCC in Johannesburg, South Africa. Semi-structured interviews together with the River of Life and Possible Me Tree were used to collect data. These creative tools helped in exploring the possible selves of the YPIC and were done over two sessions (interviews). Data were transcribed and then analysed using thematic analysis. The key findings from the research were that the research participants felt that they could share their possible selves, thus their hopes, dreams, fears, and goals with both the social workers and the youth care workers within the CYCC. This reflected that the YPIC had strong attachments with social workers and youth care workers in the CYCC. The leaving of caregivers, the social worker and one of the caregivers harmed the participants. The research highlighted that there are very few aftercare services available for children who leave care. The need for independence and education is seldomly reached but was the primary goal of participants throughout the research.M.A. (Socialis Scientiae