Adolescentes em acolhimento institucional: vinculação afetiva e relacionamento entre acolhidos

Abstract

The affective bond is fundamental in human relationships and is related to development and security. The context of institutional shelter for children and adolescents is directly related to the rupture of bonds and the possibility of constituting new ones. In foster care institutions, it is possible to identify affective bonds between those who are sheltered and the professionals, and among the sheltered who live there. The importance of bonds with other individuals in the phase of adolescent development is also considered. In this sense, this study aimed to understand the experience of adolescents in institutional care about their affective bonds and relationships with other residents of the institution. The research, of exploratory qualitative nature, had as participants 6 adolescents aged between 12 and 16 years old, who had been sheltered for a period of 4 months to 2 years and 9 months, in two houses of a shelter institution, in a city in the metropolitan region of São Paulo/SP. The data collection occurred in two meetings in different days, being performed, in the first meeting, the answer to a questionnaire of sociodemographic data and a semi-structured interview and, in the second meeting, the construction of a significant social network map. The data were analyzed based on content analysis, defining three thematic categories: 1) Conceptions about affective bonding with the foster child; 2) Quality and functions of the relationships among the foster child; 3) Influences in the bonding and relationship among the foster child: a) Affinities/common experiences/ coexistence; b) Temporality of the reception; c) Rules of the institution. The results indicated the existence of significant bonds between the residents, as well as influential aspects in these connections, such as similarities within the group, being welcoming and "cool". The importance of meaningful relationships in the confrontation of institutional foster care is then discussed.