Abstract
Adolescence represents a critical and often challenging developmental stage for most individuals. For adolescents in foster care, these challenges are further compounded by the need to recover from adverse childhood experiences and traumas, which frequently result in emotional and psychological distress. Many of these adolescents lack consistent support systems or effective avenues for expressing their emotions. As a result, unresolved emotions, particularly anger, may be externalised through engagement in risk behaviors. Such behaviors are often impulsive in nature and can be difficult for adults, including caregivers and professionals, to interpret and manage effectively.
A phenomenology research design was employed to collect and analyse data. Purposive sampling was used to identify participants according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, with the support of the foster care social work supervisor and the appointed research mediator. The study sought to explore the views of adolescents in foster care regarding the factors they perceive as contributing to the manifestation of risk behavior among their peers in similar circumstances.
In-depth interviews were conducted with eight participants between the ages of 14 and 18. The findings revealed that participants frequently perceived risk behavior as an outward expression of unresolved anger, pain, and frustration arising from their life circumstances, with separation from their biological parents identified as a primary contributing factor.
Additional influences included negative peer pressure, the absence of consistent personal support systems, and limited access to therapeutic interventions. The findings were categorised into six overarching themes, each illuminating specific gaps that contribute to the manifestation of risk behavior among adolescents in foster care. The study further revealed that addressing such behaviors necessitates targeted interventions, including access to therapeutic services, opportunities for open and nonjudgmental dialogue, and initiatives that promote adolescents’ self-acceptance. Moreover, the results underscore the importance of strategic collaboration among social welfare service providers, foster parents, and the adolescents themselves, to effectively mitigate the occurrence of risk behavior.