Interaction between possible selves and the resilience of care-leavers in South Africa

Sue Bond and Adrian van Breda

Children and Youth Services Review, 2018, vol. 94, issue C, 88-95

Abstract: Although a future focus is recognized as a contributing factor to resilience, the content of future focus is seldom explored. Care-leavers in South Africa exit the statutory system and enter into adulthood largely unsupported. Their futures are hampered by limited preparation for leaving care, the absence of follow-up services and contextual factors such as high unemployment rates. Having a well-developed future focus may contribute to better outcomes for care-leavers. Drawing on data from a small qualitative study carried out in four child and youth care centres in a town in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, this article argues that possible selves methods provide a useful tool with which to unpack the content of future focus, and in doing so identify contributors to resilience. Study findings reveal a reciprocal interaction between possible selves and resilience: resilience enablers help to generate compelling possible selves, while possible selves lead to activities that promote resilience.

Keywords: Possible selves; Resilience; Care-leavers; South Africa; Child and Youth Care (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:94:y:2018:i:c:p:88-95

DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.09.014

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