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Health & Wellbeing

What lies beneath: A study into the dynamics between youth care workers and adolescents with autism in residential youth care

  • Alumni research project
  • by Theodora Bouronikou
  • № 43
Research by

Theodora Bouronikou

Young people with autism in Dutch residential youth care are not doing well. Various studies and reports show that residential youth care has adverse effects on the lives of young people.

There are many escalations in the groups where the young people live. One reason is that youth care workers are not aware of their behavioural patterns that can trigger escalating behaviour in young people with autism. Behaviour always has a cause. Much of the behaviour is caused by the stress that trauma patterns generate. About 70% of people or even more have a traumatic experience unconsciously or consciously. Most studies are about the client. Few studies have been found that examine the effect of the professional’s behaviour on the vulnerable client.

In this study, a literature search examines differences and similarities in various areas such as stress, trauma, autonomy SDT, projection, transference and countertransference, self-development, cross-border behaviour and need for safety. The outcome so far is that there is little or no difference between the internal processes of the professional or the young person.

All the effects of topics studied seem to be universal. It also appears that we have a lot of intended and unintended effect on each other.

One of the conclusions is that if professionals have knowledge of the research areas and are aware of their triggers and patterns, they will better do justice to the vulnerable young people in what
they need.

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