Understanding Social Network Disruption: The Case of Youth in Foster Care

Abstract

Relatively little existing research has examined variation in psychological distress outcomes for individuals who suddenly lose access to multiple established network ties. Adolescents placed in foster care provide a unique opportunity to examine the effects of different levels of network disruption. Some types of foster care placement provide stability and continuity while others are characterized by persistent network turnover. Using data from telephone surveys with adolescents in foster care in a midwestern state, the author compares the primary relationships of youth in foster care and in the general population, and explores relationships between psychological distress, levels of network disruption, strength of ties within three domains (the biological family, foster care, and peer networks), and other network variables. The author finds that variations in psychological distress following network disruption may be explained, in part, by the structure and strength of the resulting network. Also, increasing levels of network disruption weaken networks and ongoing or repeated instances of disruption may be particularly problematic. Strong and supportive ties with new network members may replace weak or absent ties within old network domains as a protective factor for psychological outcomes. The author advocates grounding social problems research in a solid, theoretical foundation.