Research project Social climate and victimization in residential care
An exploration of youth's experiences
This project investigates the social climate and prevalence of violence at residential care institutions for children and youth. Despite worrying reports about shortcomings within the care system, there is a lack of Swedish studies focusing on the children’s own perceptions of their conditions in care. The knowledge generated by the project provides new and extensive insights into the internal dynamics of institutional care, as seen from the perspective of the young people.
Project description
Each year, around 7,000 children and youth receive care in one of Sweden's residential care institutions. The purpose of such placement is to ensure a safe living environment and to contribute to positive development. There is growing support in international research that the social climate is of importance for the quality of care. In Sweden, several worrying reports of various types of abuse and violence in residential care have surfaced, yet we lack systematic research focusing on the placed youths’ perceptions of social climate and victimization in residential care. Taking as its starting point the developing international research discourse within this area, this study aims to describe and analyse youth's experiences of social climate and victimization in Swedish residential care institutions. Furthermore, the study will investigate possible associations between these experiences and aspects such as organizational factors and individual characteristics of the youth. The following questions will be guiding the study:
- How do the youth describe the group atmosphere and support from staff and other youth at the institution?
- How do youth perceive their opportunities for participation and personal development in care?
- Have the youth experienced violence from other children/youth and/or staff in care?
- Are there any associations between organizational factors of the residential care institutions (e.g. open/secure units) and/or individual characteristics (e.g. gender) of the young people and the experiences of social climate and victimization?
The knowledge generated by the project is important considering that society places children and youth in a context that is supposed to be caring, while at the same time we do not know to what extent the efforts succeeds in providing a favourable environment.
Project members
Project managers
Emelie Shanks
Senior lecturer, associate professor. Vice head of department
Members
David Pålsson
Senior lecturer, associate professor
Peter Andersson
Senior lecturer
Stefan Wiklund
Professor, Head of department
