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According to the attachment theory, early experiences with primary caregivers are the foundation of the expectations and beliefs about the self, others, and the world. It becomes particularly relevant in youth living in Residential Care (RC) settings, due to their past adversities. In this context, care workers can provide emotional healing experiences by acting as secure base figures and fostering conditions for youth's revision of their internal working models. The main aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between youth attachment dimensions and satisfaction with the residential caregiving environment, as well as, to analyze the potential mediator effect of the relationship quality with care workers in RC settings in the prior association. The sample was composed of youth, aged 12 to 18 (M = 15.54; SD = 1.66) living in RC settings in Porto district, Portugal (N = 248), that responded to three self-report measures. Results showed that attachment dimensions were associated with youth satisfaction with their caregiving environment, being this association mediated by the relationship quality with care workers. This study highlights the importance of investing in good relational experiences for youth satisfaction with the RC caregiving environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the attachment theory, the establishment of emotional bonds with significant figures is an important process in human development throughout life. The quality of the relationships between adolescents and their caregivers in residential care (RC) may act as a protective factor for internal reorganisation and the development of emotional regulation skills. The present study aims to analyse the effect of insecure attachment orientation and the quality of relationships developed with caregivers in RC settings and adolescent emotion regulation. It also aims to assess the mediating role of emotion regulation in the association between attachment and the quality of the relationship with caregivers. The sample consisted of 249 adolescents, aged between 12 and 18 years old, living in RC facilities in Porto (Portugal). The results suggest that perceived insecurity of attachment to significant figures has a negative effect on emotional regulation and on the quality of the relationship with caregivers. We also found a negative mediating effect of the differentiating emotions dimension on the association between attachment and the quality of the relationship with caregivers. It is relevant to highlight the importance of close affective relationships in developing adolescents' ability to regulate their emotions and particularly the impact of caregivers and their work in residential care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attachment theory (AT) is one of the most popular theories used among professionals working in children and family welfare worldwide. An important contribution relies on the central role of professionals in creating an emotional environment for children and youth psychosocial adaptation and development. Nevertheless, little research has been focused on comprehending caregiving challenges in such complex contexts as RC settings from an attachment theoretical framework. This study will focus on caregivers' narratives on major processes involved when supporting young people, problematizing professional caregiving and relational challenges. A semi-structured interview was conducted with 22 professionals working on four RC facilities in Portugal. Three major themes emerged during the analysis: "it is life we are dealing with, it's not work," "unfortunately (or not) we are human beings" and "someone to listen when you have a monkey on your back." By acknowledging the complex dynamics involved in the caregiving process in out-of-home contexts, this study stresses the need for an important change in the relational paradigm in child welfare, advocating for the role of reflexive practice and self-knowledge as important premises for secure base behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the impact of an attachment-based intervention on care workers’ reflexive functioning (RF), analyzing 212 professionals in a randomized control trial. The study employed a multi-group latent difference score model to investigate changes in professionals’ certainty (i.e., hypermentalizing) while controlling for attachment-related anxiety and avoidance at T0. Furthermore, it examined whether these changes predicted the professionals’ ability to foster children’s autonomy. Results showed reduced hypermentalizing in the experimental group over time, correlating with higher levels of children’s autonomous/secure support. The role of RF processes in enhancing professionals’ capabilities to support the autonomy of children will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition to residential care (RC) is often experienced with fear and distrust, which, associated with a feeling of punishment and abandonment, may result in pejorative attributions and self-depreciation. These feelings may reveal a greater difficulty for youth to invest in social relationships and be open to reorganizing affective bonds with alternative significant figures. Developing quality affective relationships with caregivers in residential care may work as a protective factor for the biopsychosocial development of youth. The present study aims to analyze the associations between affective relationships with caregivers and self-efficacy, and future expectations of youth in residential care, as well as to test the mediating effect of hope on the previous association. The sample included 249 youth living in residential care, aged between 12 and 18 years. The results show that the quality of affective relationships with caregivers is associated with youth self-efficacy and hopes. A partial positive mediation of hope is also found. The results are discussed considering attachment theory and its contribution to relational mechanisms to promote self-efficacy and expectations of the future of youth living in residential care. The contributions of this study to the implementation of intervention guidelines will also be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children and youth residential care institutions were forced to introduce adaptations to their regular functioning in order to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic challenges. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the lockdown on the adolescents' psychological adjustment and whether adolescents' perceived cohesion mitigated the increase of adolescents' psychological adjustment problems. Participants were 243 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years, living in 21 different residential care institutions. The results suggested a moderating role of cohesion on the stability of adolescents' emotional distress across time. Lower levels of cohesion were related with higher emotional distress stability across time. On the contrary, as cohesion increased, the association between adolescents' emotional distress at T0 and T1 decreased. Results are discussed considering the mechanisms raised by the institutions to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and minimize the negative effects on the psychological adjustment of adolescents living in residential care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]