Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

LIVED MENTAL HEALTH EXPERIENCES OF ADOLESCENTS OF COLOR IN FOSTER CARE

Scott, Ella M

Abstract Details

2008, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Nursing.
The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study is to explore the lived mental health experiences of adolescents of color in foster care. Besides having vast mental health problems, compared with the general population of children and adolescents in and out of foster care, children and adolescents of color are disproportionately represented among children and adolescents who are living in foster care representing a serious burden on an already overburdened system. Children and adolescents of color in foster care are at higher risk for mental health problems and mental disorders than the general population of children and adolescents in and out of foster care and manifest a greater range of mental disorders. Yet few studies of the mental health problems of children and adolescents of color, whether or not they are in foster care, have been undertaken. This is a qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study using an adaptation of Leininger’s Sunrise Model with a focus on Cultural and Social Structure Dimensions to guide the examination of the experiences of adolescents. A semi-structured face-to-face interview was conducted with nine (n=9) adolescents of color in foster care 15-17 years of age, 3 females and 6 males. All the participants experienced multiple placements; the mean number of placements is 6.8. All but one of the participants has a diagnosed mental disorder. The findings suggest the mental health problems of all the participants are significant and are associated with the antecedent issues of biological families, then, exacerbated with the separation from their biological families to foster care. Three general themes emerge from the data: 1) Antecedents related to separation from biological families to foster care, 2) Consequences related to separation from biological families to foster care, and 3) Adverse perceptions of mental health diagnoses and treatments. Additional study and focus is needed to identify better interventions and support for adolescents when separation is deemed necessary and to determine alternate means of dealing with child abuse and neglect other than separation of children and adolescents from their families.
Diana Morris (Advisor)
220 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Scott, E. M. (2008). LIVED MENTAL HEALTH EXPERIENCES OF ADOLESCENTS OF COLOR IN FOSTER CARE [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1196365483

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Scott, Ella. LIVED MENTAL HEALTH EXPERIENCES OF ADOLESCENTS OF COLOR IN FOSTER CARE. 2008. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1196365483.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Scott, Ella. "LIVED MENTAL HEALTH EXPERIENCES OF ADOLESCENTS OF COLOR IN FOSTER CARE." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1196365483

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)