Narrativas de adolescentes institucionalizadas: perceções e vivências sobre a institucionalização
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2019-06-11
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Em Portugal, o acolhimento institucional de crianças é uma resposta social que visa a promoção e proteção de menores que vivenciam situações de perigo que comprometem o seu desenvolvimento saudável e equilibrado. Embora a institucionalização vise salvaguardar os menores de situações de perigo, procurando, ao mesmo tempo, criar condições para que estes se desenvolvam e realizem a nível pessoal e social, torna-se inquestionável e inegável o forte impacto que ela tem sobre os mesmos. Por outro lado, facilmente se depreende que viver numa instituição constitui uma mudança avassaladora na vida dos menores, podendo, por essa razão, serem atribuídos significados e sentimentos ambíguos e ambivalentes em relação à institucionalização. Assim, o presente estudo centra-se na análise das narrativas de adolescentes institucionalizadas sobre as suas perceções e vivências face à institucionalização, tendo como objetivos: a) compreender as suas perceções sobre o fenómeno da institucionalização em geral; b) perceber a forma como experienciaram o seu processo de acolhimento em instituição; c) compreender a forma como vivenciam o seu quotidiano na instituição (ou seja, perceber como é a sua vida na instituição, como lidam com as regras da mesma, se participam nas decisões e na definição do projeto de vida); d) perceber o estabelecimento de relações interpessoais dentro e fora da instituição; e) explorar que aspetos mudariam na instituição. Para a realização deste estudo foi privilegiado o estudo de caso com a aplicação da entrevista como técnica de recolha de dados. No que concerne à amostra, foi selecionado um grupo de seis adolescentes com idades compreendidas entre os 12 e os 18 anos que, no momento, se encontram a vivenciar um processo de acolhimento institucional. Os resultados obtidos permitiram compreender que o acolhimento institucional deve ser uma medida de carácter excecional e provisório, mas que quando aplicável constitui uma possibilidade de as menores repararem e compensarem vulnerabilidades, fragilidades e desorganizações que, por hábito, caracterizam o seu contexto familiar e realidade social. Esta intervenção desenvolvida pelas instituições de acolhimento permite a (re)construção do passado e futuro destas menores, possibilitando-lhes a aprendizagem e o desenvolvimento de competências pessoais e sociais essenciais para a sua (re)integração social e construção da autonomia. Assim, embora existam estudos que revelam consequências negativas no desenvolvimento de crianças e jovens institucionalizados, com este estudo foi possível detetar que, de facto, o período inicial de acolhimento foi um momento difícil para as menores e que a ele estão associados momentos de tristeza, solidão e medo. Porém, com o passar do tempo, e muito graças às experiências positivas e às relações interpessoais existentes, a institucionalização é percecionada de outra forma. Na sua maioria, as adolescentes compreendem que a instituição lhes viabiliza o acesso a determinadas oportunidades e possibilita que tenham um desenvolvimento biopsicossocial saudável e adequado, facto que se constitui como uma mais-valia para elas e para o seu futuro
In Portugal, the institutional reception of children is a social response that seeks the promotion and protection of minors who experience situations of danger that compromise their healthy and balanced development. Although institutionalization aims to safeguard minors from dangerous situations, while seeking to create conditions for them to develop and perform at the personal and social level, it becomes unquestionable and undeniable the strong impact it has on the same. On the other hand, it is easily understood that living in an institution constitutes an overwhelming change in the lives of minors, and it can therefore be attributed with ambiguous and ambivalent meanings and feelings regarding the institutionalization. Thus, this study focuses on the analysis of the narratives of institutionalized adolescents about their perceptions and experiences regarding the institutionalization, having as objectives: a) to understand their perceptions about the general phenomenon of institutionalization; b) to perceive the way in which they experienced their welcoming process in an institution; c) Understand how they experience their daily lives in the institution (i.e., perceiving how their life is in the institution, how they deal with the rules of it, whether they participate in the decisions and the definition of life project); d) to understand the establishment of interpersonal relationships within and outside the institution; e) explore what aspects would change in the institution. While making this study it was privileged the case study with the application of an interview as a data collection technique. Regarding the sample, it was selected a group of six adolescents aged 12 to 18 years which are currently experiencing an institutional process. The results obtained allowed us to understand that institutional process should be a measure of exceptional and temporary nature, but that where applicable constitutes a possibility for minors to repair and compensate for vulnerabilities, fragilities and disorganizations that, by habit, characterize their family context and social reality. This intervention developed by the host institutions allows the (re)construction of the past and future of these minors, enabling them to learn and develop personal and social competences essential to their own social (re)integration and the construction of autonomy. Thus, although there are studies that reveal negative consequences in the development of institutionalized children and adolescents, with this study it was possible to detect that, in fact, the initial period of institutionalization was a difficult time for minors and it is associated with moments of sadness, loneliness and fear. However, with the passing of time, and thanks to the positive experiences and the existing interpersonal relationships, institutionalization is perceived in another way. Most adolescents understand that the institution allows them access to certain opportunities and enables them to have a healthy and adequate biopsychosocial development, a fact that constitutes an added value for them and their future.
In Portugal, the institutional reception of children is a social response that seeks the promotion and protection of minors who experience situations of danger that compromise their healthy and balanced development. Although institutionalization aims to safeguard minors from dangerous situations, while seeking to create conditions for them to develop and perform at the personal and social level, it becomes unquestionable and undeniable the strong impact it has on the same. On the other hand, it is easily understood that living in an institution constitutes an overwhelming change in the lives of minors, and it can therefore be attributed with ambiguous and ambivalent meanings and feelings regarding the institutionalization. Thus, this study focuses on the analysis of the narratives of institutionalized adolescents about their perceptions and experiences regarding the institutionalization, having as objectives: a) to understand their perceptions about the general phenomenon of institutionalization; b) to perceive the way in which they experienced their welcoming process in an institution; c) Understand how they experience their daily lives in the institution (i.e., perceiving how their life is in the institution, how they deal with the rules of it, whether they participate in the decisions and the definition of life project); d) to understand the establishment of interpersonal relationships within and outside the institution; e) explore what aspects would change in the institution. While making this study it was privileged the case study with the application of an interview as a data collection technique. Regarding the sample, it was selected a group of six adolescents aged 12 to 18 years which are currently experiencing an institutional process. The results obtained allowed us to understand that institutional process should be a measure of exceptional and temporary nature, but that where applicable constitutes a possibility for minors to repair and compensate for vulnerabilities, fragilities and disorganizations that, by habit, characterize their family context and social reality. This intervention developed by the host institutions allows the (re)construction of the past and future of these minors, enabling them to learn and develop personal and social competences essential to their own social (re)integration and the construction of autonomy. Thus, although there are studies that reveal negative consequences in the development of institutionalized children and adolescents, with this study it was possible to detect that, in fact, the initial period of institutionalization was a difficult time for minors and it is associated with moments of sadness, loneliness and fear. However, with the passing of time, and thanks to the positive experiences and the existing interpersonal relationships, institutionalization is perceived in another way. Most adolescents understand that the institution allows them access to certain opportunities and enables them to have a healthy and adequate biopsychosocial development, a fact that constitutes an added value for them and their future.
Descrição
Dissertação de Mestrado em Serviço Social
Palavras-chave
institucionalização , menores