In this contribution results of a qualitative study on adult care leavers in Flanders (Belgium) are discussed. Life history interviews with 38 adult care leavers (21-66 years) were conducted to shed light on how a history of being in residential/foster care may impact on further lives. In this article focus is on the identity (and identity changes) of care leavers to explore the process of psychological transition to adulthood. The process of psychological transition is characterised by identity changes; care leavers move away from a care-identity to another, more conventional identity. The narratives clearly evidence the existence of a care-identity, characterised by a perception of a decrease/loss of selfhood. For most care leavers, identification with the group of institutionalised youth and stigmatization leaves a negative imprint on their self-image. However, as care leavers age, new and more conventional identities are developed, making the negative imprint of the care-identity diminish over time. While the care-identity probably will not completely disappear it will be pushed more to the background as it may co-exist with new and conventional identities. In order to initiate/complete the psychological transition to adulthood, the processing of traumatic events is crucial. Also, parenthood and a job in the social care sector are important turning points instigating psychological transition. Remarkably, the process of psychological transition is often prompted later in adulthood, underscoring the importance of a longitudinal perspective both in research and policy (aftercare).

中文翻译：

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为比利时的年轻人和老年人提供护理服务的声音：在护​​理中的经历如何塑造自我的叙述

在这项贡献中，讨论了对法兰德斯（比利时）成人护理毕业生进行定性研究的结果。进行了38位成年护理人员（21-66岁）的生活史访谈，以了解居住/寄养的历史可能如何影响以后的生活。在本文中，重点关注休假者的身份（和身份变化），以探索从心理过渡到成年的过程。心理转变的过程以身份变化为特征。护理人员从护理身份转移到另一个更传统的身份。这些叙述清楚地证明了护理身份的存在，其特征在于对自我的减少/丧失的感知。对于大多数护理人员而言，与制度化青年和污名化群体的认同给他们的自我形象留下了负面的烙印。但是，随着护理人员年龄的增长，出现了新的和更传统的身份，使得护理身份的负面烙印随着时间的流逝而减少。尽管护理身份可能不会完全消失，但由于它可能与新的和传统的身份共存，因此将更多地推向后台。为了启动/完成向成年期的心理过渡，创伤事件的处理至关重要。此外，父母身份和社会护理部门的工作是促使心理转变的重要转折点。值得注意的是，心理转变的过程通常会在成年后期被提示，