The relationship between subjective well-being and residential out-of-home care in Spain: the children’s voice

Abstract

Approximately 40% of the child-in-care population in Spain is in residential care. The aim of this study was to find out and analyse the perceptions and evaluations of 12-14-year-olds in residential placement in relation to residential care in order to identify what factors in their daily lives had an impact on their subjective well-being. A mixed methods study was carried out in which a questionnaire was administered to 379 adolescent individuals (70% response rate in Catalonia), and two focus groups (16 participants) were analysed. After constructing three multiple linear regression models and conducting a content analysis of each one, the qualitative and quantitative data were triangulated. Finally, the implications of our findings for professional practice and policy-making have been discussed.