Social climate and victimization in residential care - an exploration of youth´s experiences

Research problem and specific questionsEach 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 analyze 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?Data and methodEmpirically, the study will be based on a national survey of approx. 300 young people at around 50 residential care institutions, in-depth individual interviews with 20-40 young people and basic information about the included institutions collected from registers and representatives of the institutions.Societal relevance and utilisationThe proposed research project will generate new and important knowledge about residential care which can contribute to well-founded development work.Plan for project realisationThe costs cover funding for the project group who, together with a research assistant, will work with the project.

Combined, the project group has relevant experience of doing both qualitative and quantitative studies. In addition, the group has demonstrated experience of interviewing young people about sensitive issues.