Stories of Resilience and Attachment in Foster Youth

The purpose of this study was to examine how foster youth understand and make meaning of their lives. From interviews with eight former foster youth between the ages of 20–24, this study investigated firsthand accounts of experiences of resilience and attachment. Seven of the eight participants interviewed were African-American and one was Asian. Most of the participants had moved numerous times in the foster care system, and each had spent her entire childhood and adolescence in the system without the option of being adopted.;Key themes that emerged from the interviews are identified and discussed. Attachment relationships were found to be important, though not necessarily with adult caregivers. Instead, relationships with mentors, mentees, peers, and siblings were highly valued and seemed to help participants develop their capacity for attachment. Spirituality and the church were crucial to many of the African-American participants. Participants' ability to be resilient was greatly helped by their capacity to reflect on the painful feelings that accompanied their adverse memories of attachment. Participants did not discuss how they became resilient, but this researcher was able to deduce that each participant had a unique combination of personal attributes and circumstances that came together to make her resilient. The issue of external locus of control is considered. Finally, the results emphasize the risk factors of frequent moves, inconsistent support and the weakness of the foster care system in dealing with complaints of child abuse.;This study highlights the importance of listening deeply to the stories of foster youth in an interview format, as it allows participants to explain their experiences of resiliency and attachment. Their hopeful stories are an important contribution to the overwhelming amount of pessimistic research on foster youths' ability to live full and satisfying lives.