Negotiating and Constructing Identity: Social Work with Young People Who Experience Adversity

Abstract

This article explores the experiences of at-risk young people. Based on a mixed-methods study of young people (n = 605) aged between thirteen and seventeen who used multiple services (child welfare, youth justice, education support and mental health), this article focuses on their processes of identity negotiation and construction. These young people had experienced sustained exposure to harm including abuse, violence, addictions, disengagement from school and mental health issues. The article considers how services worked to support positive identity development. Three key themes emerged as being significant in contributing to positive identity development: seeking safe and secure connections; finding opportunities to test out identities; and building a sense of agency. The research findings delineate a key role for social workers in supporting young people to mediate their social worlds and create meaning which is at the centre of identity negotiation and construction processes.