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Att hantera en ofrivillig tyngd - Familjemedlemmars erfarenheter av ungdomsbrottslighet

Christensen, Isabelle LU and Svensson, Sofie LU (2026) SOPB63 20261
School of Social Work
Abstract
Objectives. This study examines how family members of adolescents who have engaged in criminal behaviour describe their relationship with the adolescents, how they dealt with challenges, and how they make sense of their situation. Methods. Data were collected from four autobiographies written by family members of adolescents who have engaged in criminal behaviour. A qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the authors' representations, and the theory used is Integrating Family Resilience and Family Stress Theory. Results. The relationship between the family member and the adolescent is shown as complex and paradoxical. The relation is described as characterized by love, but the family member does at the same time experience... (More)
Objectives. This study examines how family members of adolescents who have engaged in criminal behaviour describe their relationship with the adolescents, how they dealt with challenges, and how they make sense of their situation. Methods. Data were collected from four autobiographies written by family members of adolescents who have engaged in criminal behaviour. A qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the authors' representations, and the theory used is Integrating Family Resilience and Family Stress Theory. Results. The relationship between the family member and the adolescent is shown as complex and paradoxical. The relation is described as characterized by love, but the family member does at the same time experience conflicting feelings towards the adolescent´s behaviour. The results show that the family member experiences an ongoing process of trying to recreate balance within the family, as they try to even out demands and capabilities. In the middle of this process, meaning-making proves to be significant. The results show that this process at times is characterized by an unstructured, uncontrolled, and chaotic movement. Meaning making is therefore a main finding. Discussion. The study highlights how the family members' representations show an ongoing crisis and an imbalance between demands and capabilities. The representations give important insights into how family members choose to represent their story and how their reasoning can be understood. These insights contribute a new perspective to the crime prevention work and to the dialogue with these families. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Christensen, Isabelle LU and Svensson, Sofie LU
supervisor
organization
course
SOPB63 20261
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
family members, juvenile delinquency, autobiographies
language
Swedish
id
9249570
date added to LUP
2026-08-31 16:22:58
date last changed
2026-08-31 16:22:58
@misc{9249570,
  abstract     = {{Objectives. This study examines how family members of adolescents who have engaged in criminal behaviour describe their relationship with the adolescents, how they dealt with challenges, and how they make sense of their situation. Methods. Data were collected from four autobiographies written by family members of adolescents who have engaged in criminal behaviour. A qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the authors' representations, and the theory used is Integrating Family Resilience and Family Stress Theory. Results. The relationship between the family member and the adolescent is shown as complex and paradoxical. The relation is described as characterized by love, but the family member does at the same time experience conflicting feelings towards the adolescent´s behaviour. The results show that the family member experiences an ongoing process of trying to recreate balance within the family, as they try to even out demands and capabilities. In the middle of this process, meaning-making proves to be significant. The results show that this process at times is characterized by an unstructured, uncontrolled, and chaotic movement. Meaning making is therefore a main finding. Discussion. The study highlights how the family members' representations show an ongoing crisis and an imbalance between demands and capabilities. The representations give important insights into how family members choose to represent their story and how their reasoning can be understood. These insights contribute a new perspective to the crime prevention work and to the dialogue with these families.}},
  author       = {{Christensen, Isabelle and Svensson, Sofie}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Att hantera en ofrivillig tyngd - Familjemedlemmars erfarenheter av ungdomsbrottslighet}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}