The biological family from the perspective of kinship fostered adolescents

Background: Previous studies emphasise the importance of the biological family to the welfare of fostered adolescents. However, the majority of these studies only take into consideration the viewpoints of the professionals, foster parents and biological parents not those of the adolescents themselve...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Fuentes-Peláez, Núria, Amorós, Pere, Mateos Inchaurrondo, Ainoa, Balsells, M. Àngels, Violant, Verónica
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2013
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Barcelona
Repository:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/49846
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/49846
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Acolliment familiar
Adolescents
Famílies adoptives
Foster home care
Teenagers
Stepfamilies
Description
Summary:Background: Previous studies emphasise the importance of the biological family to the welfare of fostered adolescents. However, the majority of these studies only take into consideration the viewpoints of the professionals, foster parents and biological parents not those of the adolescents themselves. For this reason little is known about the perceptions the adolescents have and the needs they express. Method: This study has gathered data from 57 adolescents in kinship family fostering in Spain (AFE). The study applied qualitative reseach, using focus groups to gather data and the Atlas.ti programme to analyse the data. The qualitative data give us a more profound understanding of how the fostered adolescents relate to their biological families. Results: The results highlight the specific needs of these adolescents a) an understanding of their family history b) the impact of visits from and relationship with their biological family and c) the relationship between the biological family and the foster family. Conclusions: These findings reveal implications to consider when creating support programmes aimed at this group.