Stability and change in adolescents’ well-being: The role of relationships with caregivers in residential care

Adolescents‘ well-being is an important marker of psychosocial adjustment and quality of life. However, few studies have been conducted about adolescents‘ well-being in residential care and its stability during time. Moreover, according to attachment theory, the quality of the relationship between adolescents and caregivers constitutes a relevant factor for well-being, but few studies investigated its effect longitudinally. The present study examined the development of adolescents’ well-being across three assessment waves, during one year. It aimed to test the moderating effect of adolescents’ perception of their relationship with caregivers (characterized by emotional closeness and relational tension) on well-being. Participants were 306 adolescents, 12–18 years old, living in residential care in Portugal. The results showed that emotional closeness as perceived by the adolescents moderated the development of their well-being in the first six months, but no significant effects were found 1 year later. The results pointed out the role of the relationship with caregivers on positive psychological functioning of adolescents living in residential care.