Where do I belong?

What happens to a child’s sense of belonging when growing up in a family of divorce?
Many children grow up in divorced or blended families, in which the family members do not all share the same household. Often, these youth alternately live in two houses. The project "Where do I belong?" examines how young people feel after the divorce of parents, where they feel at home and with whom they can talk. As one’s sense of belonging develops in the relationship with primary caretakers, and is of great importance for children's wellbeing and cognitive functioning, it is crucial to understand which factors affect belonging in children who grow up in multi-resident families, who are not raised by both biological parents, or who live in two different homes and neighbourhoods. We follow adolescents (12-18 years) and their parents from separated families across a period of two years.
Collaboration
- City of Utrecht
- Villa Pinedo
- Youké Sterke jeugd (in Dutch)
- KIES Expertisecentrum Kind en Scheiding(in Dutch)