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Abstract
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BACKGROUND: LGBTQ+ youth in out-of-home care experience multiple stressors due to being a minority group, in out-of-home care, and rejected by their families. Therefore, they tend to be vulnerable.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to explore the sources of the resilience of homeless LGBTQ+ youth in out-of-home care in the Israeli context. The research question was: What are the experiences, perceptions, and constructions of "resilience" among LGBTQ+ youth who aged out of out-of-home care for homeless LGBTQ+ youth in Israel? METHODS: The study employed a critical constructivist grounded theory approach. Thirty-one in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with LGBTQ+ youth aged 16 to 32 (average age of 21.5) and analyzed.
RESULTS: The data analysis presents the sources of resilience according to four levels. (1) The individual level refers to self-acceptance, faith and hope, and creativity and productiveness. (2) The interpersonal level refers to friends and peer groups, educational institutions, employment environments, professionals, and LGBTQ+ out-of-home care services. (3) The macro level refers to public visibility of the LGBTQ+ community and financial support. (4) Finally, the chrono level refers to the development of rights and recognition over time.
CONCLUSIONS: An ecological model was implemented to conceptualize resilience among LGBTQ+ youth in out-of-home care in Israel. This multidimensional model was used to construct resilience sources that could assist in overcoming adversities among these youth. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
Language: en |