Temporalities of Trauma
An Exploration of the Role of Socio‐Temporal Rhythms in Foster Carer Experiences of Vicarious Trauma
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12571083 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Sam Arthurson (0009-0007-1096-9877, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work Flinders University Adelaide South Australia Australia, corresponding author), D W Riggs (0000-0003-0961-9099, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work Flinders University Adelaide South Australia Australia), B A Lohmeyer (0000-0003-3675-5539, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work Flinders University Adelaide South Australia Australia) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Publication date | 2026-04-07 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Child & Family Social Work (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1356-7500 • E-ISSN: 1365-2206 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/cfs.70195 |
| OpenAlex | W7151454217 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 27 |
Foster carers raise children whose trauma backgrounds likely result in behaviours that are not simply challenging, but which can also result in vicarious trauma for foster carers. While a growing body of research has explored vicarious trauma among foster carers, to date research has not explored how temporal shifts produced by raising foster children can also compound vicarious trauma for foster carers. The present paper addresses this research gap by exploring the experiences of 28 Australian foster carers in terms of their accounts of temporality and timescapes. Thematic analysis of the interview data resulted in the development of two themes: (1) trauma disrupts existing temporal rhythms and (2) impact of trauma through new temporal rhythms. Both themes serve to highlight how the affective dimensions of time serve to further insert vicarious trauma into the everyday lives of foster carers. Through the concepts of temporal ‘hot spots’ and ‘cold spots,’ the paper concludes by exploring what it means for foster carers to navigate time in the context of vicarious trauma and how this necessitates supports that enable foster carers to respond to shifts in normative temporal orders
Agency (philosophy · Context (archaeology · Lived experience · Normative · Rhythm · Temporalities · Temporality · Thematic analysis · Child Abuse and Trauma · Child Welfare and Adoption · Youth Education and Societal Dynamics
Vicarious traumatization
Institutional betrayal.
Understanding the burnout experience
Modernity and self-identity
The Cultural Politics of Emotion
A Systematic Review of Mental Health Disorders of Children in Foster Care
Untangling secondary traumatic stress and vicarious traumatization
Filial Trauma
Family practices in time and space
Rethinking the timescape of home
Experiences of vicarious trauma among Australian foster parents providing long-term care to non-indigenous children
Foster carer stress and satisfaction
High stress experienced in the foster and kin carer role
The institutionalised momentum of slow violence
Adolescent-to-Parent Violence in Adoptive Families
Foster carer experiences of vicarious trauma
Time, Consumption and the Coordination of Everyday Life
Habits, routines and temporalities of consumption
Domestic Outsourcing, Housework Shares and Subjective Time Pressure
| Highly cited | No |
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