Temporalities of Trauma: An Exploration of the Role of Socio‐Temporal Rhythms in Foster Carer Experiences of Vicarious Trauma

ABSTRACT Foster carers raise children whose trauma backgrounds likely result in behaviours that are not simply challenging, but which can also result in vicarious trauma for foster carers. While a growing body of research has explored vicarious trauma among foster carers, to date research has not explored how temporal shifts produced by raising foster children can also compound vicarious trauma for foster carers. The present paper addresses this research gap by exploring the experiences of 28 Australian foster carers in terms of their accounts of temporality and timescapes. Thematic analysis of the interview data resulted in the development of two themes: (1) trauma disrupts existing temporal rhythms and (2) impact of trauma through new temporal rhythms. Both themes serve to highlight how the affective dimensions of time serve to further insert vicarious trauma into the everyday lives of foster carers. Through the concepts of temporal ‘hot spots’ and ‘cold spots,’ the paper concludes by exploring what it means for foster carers to navigate time in the context of vicarious trauma and how this necessitates supports that enable foster carers to respond to shifts in normative temporal orders.