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Worthy and able: How helping relationships alter the trajectories of young people who face severe and multiple disadvantages
Author(s) -
Sandu Rebeca D.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/jcop.22460
Subject(s) - thematic analysis , agency (philosophy) , face (sociological concept) , psychology , social psychology , context (archaeology) , population , sense of agency , developmental psychology , sociology , qualitative research , demography , geography , social science , archaeology
Abstract Relationships with professional helpers, partly resembling family relationships, have the potential to help young people facing severe and multiple disadvantages. The aim of this study was to document how relationships alter the trajectories of young people in these circumstances. Young people ( n = 30) and support workers ( n = 35) were identified by the leaders of 11 UK and 5 US not‐for‐profit organisations providing support for this population. Thematic analysis of the semi‐structured interviews revealed that relationships helped young people feel positive about themselves, disrupted their maladaptive patterns of thinking, and fostered a sense of agency in themselves. The result was a self that was worthy and able. Findings provided an in‐depth exploration of the notion of support in the context of adversity.