Søsken i fosterhjem og deres psykiske helse

Abstract

This bachelor thesis takes aim to understand the complexity of sibling relationships amongst children in foster care. In addition, it explores the potential protective effect sibling relationships might have for children that are at risk of developing mental disorders. The thesis question for this paper is as follows: What does siblings mean to children in foster care, and to which extent does these relationships affect the children’s mental health? I will explore this by using what is known as a literary study. A literary study bases its facts on other people’s research to find coherence between different studies and significance between research and the question at hand. I will base my thesis on four different research articles published within the last eight years. In addition, relevant theories such as attachment theory will be used to understand sibling relationships better. The results of this thesis tell us that sibling relationships are indeed complex. To properly understand these relationships, we must be able to understand every child involved in it, as well as the context in which they live in. When it comes to mental health siblings have the potential to protect one another, as long as their relationship is healthy for everyone involved. I conclude my thesis by pointing out the importance of talking to children about their siblings and the nature of their relationship, especially for children that might move into different foster homes.