Instability at Transitions and Within Continuity
Navigating Maltreatment and Relational Impermanence in Out-of-Home Care
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21559920 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Olivia D Chang (0000-0001-9247-6513, University of Michigan, corresponding author), Yujeong Chang (0000-0001-7526-1123, The Ohio State University), Erna Chiu (University of Michigan) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-27 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0738-0151 • E-ISSN: 1573-2797 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s10560-026-01103-8 |
| OpenAlex | W7141475802 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 47 |
The current qualitative study examined the narratives of 23 young adult survivors of childhood maltreatment who experienced out-of-home placement. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in which participants were asked a series of questions regarding their perceptions of relational permanency and its impact on their development and resilience as maltreatment survivors. Thematic analysis revealed three key themes centered around experiences of and strategies to cope with relational impermanence. The first two themes examine how relational instability manifested as both “instability at transitions” across care contexts and as “instability within continuity,” wherein precarious relationships emerged independently of placement changes. Together, these themes grounded the third theme, “adaptive reorientation to instability,” which captures participants’ resilient responses to relational impermanence through the cultivation of openness toward uncertainty and acceptance of change. These findings extend existing scholarship on relational permanency in out-of-home care by delineating distinct dimensions of relational instability that shape youths’ care experiences. We argue that, beyond addressing placement instability, policymakers and practitioners should attend to the balance between legal and relational permanency, strengthen child welfare workforce stability, and prioritize trauma-informed training for individuals supporting youth
Grounded theory · Impermanence · Narrative · Poison control · Psychological resilience · Qualitative research · Scholarship · Thematic analysis · Transformative learning · Child Abuse and Trauma · Child Welfare and Adoption · Homelessness and Social Issues
Abductive Analysis
Basic psychological needs satisfaction at school, behavioral school engagement, and academic achievement
The association between five forms of child maltreatment and depressive and anxiety disorders
The relation between dimensions of maltreatment, placement instability, and mental health among youth in foster care
Amor Fati as Practice
Fostering Self-Determination
Individual and interpersonal factors associated with psychosocial functioning among adolescents in foster care
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Removal from Home as a Primary, Secondary, or Disclaimed Trauma in Maltreated Adolescents
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Health-Risk Behaviors in Vulnerable Early Adolescents
Evaluating the My Life self-determination model for older youth in foster care
Balancing permanency and stability for youth in foster care
Resilience among children in foster care
Defining and achieving permanency among older youth in foster care
The gender gap in educational expectations among youth in the foster care system
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger”
Instability in the lives of foster and nonfoster youth
If you can't be with this client for some years, don't do it”
Predictors of placement instability for sexually abused children served by child protection services
Agency, genuine support, and emotional connection
Termination as a therapeutic intervention when treating children who have experienced multiple losses
A Meta-analysis of the Effects of Mentoring on Youth in Foster Care
Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction in Leisure Activities and Adolescents’ Life Satisfaction
The "What" and "Why" of Goal Pursuits
Desperately Seeking Dissonance
| Highly cited | No |
|---|