While foster carers experience the rewards and challenges of parenting vulnerable and complex adolescents, some of these placements break down. Compared to research into the impact of placement breakdown on looked after children, there are relatively limited reports on how foster carers are affected. The aim of the present study was to provide an exploratory account of foster carers’ lived experience of ending adolescent foster placements. Nine participants from seven foster families in the UK were recruited. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed within an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) framework. Exploration of the foster carers’ experience identified four superordinate themes, two of which are relevant here: ‘emotional aftermath’ and ‘we’re only human’. Following a placement ending, foster carers identified different emotions including joy, relief and sadness. A grieving process was also identified, which involved coming to terms with loss and accepting the termination of the relationship. It is further suggested that foster carers are likely to experience shame and guilt as a consequence of placement breakdown.

中文翻译：

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当照顾者结束寄养安置时：探索寄养照顾者对青少年寄养安置分解的经验

虽然寄养者经历了养育脆弱和复杂的青少年的回报和挑战，但其中一些安置失败了。与研究安置崩溃对被照顾儿童的影响相比，关于寄养者如何受到影响的报告相对有限。本研究的目的是提供一个关于寄养者结束青少年寄养安置的生活经历的探索性说明。招募了来自英国七个寄养家庭的九名参与者。在解释性现象学分析 (IPA) 框架内进行和分析了半结构化访谈。对寄养者经历的探索确定了四个高级主题，其中两个与此相关：“情感后果”和“我们只是人类”。在展示位置结束后，寄养者识别出不同的情绪，包括喜悦、解脱和悲伤。还确定了一个悲伤的过程，其中包括接受损失并接受终止关系。进一步表明，寄养者可能会因安置破裂而感到羞耻和内疚。