Exploring fit for the cultural adaptation of a self-determination model for youth transitioning from out-of-home care: A comparison of a sample of Swedish youth with two samples of American youth in out-of-home care. (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Olsson, Tina M; Blakeslee, Jennifer; Bergström, Martin; Skoog, Therése
• Is Part Of: Children and youth services review. Volume 119(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: Take charge -- Better futures -- My life -- Foster care -- Leaving care -- Cultural adaptation -- Sweden; Social work with children -- Periodicals; Social work with youth -- Periodicals; Adolescent -- Periodicals; Child Welfare -- Periodicals; Social Work -- Periodicals; Service social aux enfants -- Périodiques; Service social à la jeunesse -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105484
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0190-7409

Abstract

Highlights: Youth in the Swedish out-of-home care sample have performed more concrete preparations for independent living compared to youth in the U.S. sample. Youth in the Swedish out-of-home care sample are less prepared to enter secondary education and are more negative toward the school environment compared to youth in the U.S. sample. Youth in the Swedish out-of-home care sample report lower scores on protective factor measures compared to youth in the U.S. sample. The self-determination model of intervention for youth transitioning from our-of-home care to independent living is a promising model to pilot with youth transitioning from out-of-home care in Sweden. Abstract: Background: Prior research has established evidence for self-determination enhancement as a promising intervention for youth transitioning from out-of-home care. Understanding how participants in these prior trials compare to adolescents in target contexts may inform practice by highlighting the extent to which such models are expected to benefit young people. Objective: To assess the extent to which self-determination enhancement is a promising strategy for the Swedish context. Design: Cross-sectional study comparing a sample of Swedish youth (n = 104) in out-of-home care aged 15+ on a range of outcomes with two archival data sets ( My Life; Better Futures) of youth placed in out-of-home care in the U.S. (n = 295; n = 66). Results: Swedish sample youth report: (1) having come further in their concrete planning for transition to independent living, (2) being less prepared to enter post-secondary education and being more negative toward the school environment in general, and (3) lower scores on a range of general protective factors than youth in U.S. samples. Conclusions: The self-determination model of intervention may be a promising model to adapt and pilot in the Swedish setting due to the tentative findings that Swedish youth placed in out-of-home care perceive themselves as lacking the assets and resources necessary to address challenges during the transition from out-of-home care.