Psychological Profile of Adolescents Living in Residential Care: Implications for Evidence-Based Interventions

Psychological adjustment in adolescents living in residential care settings is a multidetermined process. This study explores the psychological adjustment of adolescents living in residential care, aiming to identify distinct psychosocial profiles. The sample comprised 433 adolescents (196 boys and 237 girls), aged 12 to 18 years, from 46 Portuguese institutions. Participants self-reported on key variables, including social support, coping strategies, emotion regulation, Dark Triad traits, attachment, and institutional integration. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed three theoretically coherent profiles, differentiated by number of close friends, duration of institutionalization, substance use, and psychiatric medication. These profiles reflect varying levels of psychological, emotional, behavioral, and social adjustment and align with international literature. This study offers a novel contribution by identifying specific adjustment patterns among adolescents in care, providing valuable insights to inform more tailored intervention and prevention strategies aimed at fostering healthier development and well-being in this vulnerable group.