This is a candidate’s thesis for the programme for Social Workers at the Linneaus University in Växjö. This study has the purpose to understand what protective-factors that may be important for children who grow up in a risk environment. This has been done through reading autobiographies written by adults who have been born and raised in destructive environments. The data has been collected with the use of a narrative analysis. The result has then been viewed and analyzed with the help of attachment-theory, a salutogene perspective and with ecological systems theory. The results from this candidate’s thesis shows that we have been able to identify protective factors in three major categories; Individual attributes, relationships and factors that exists outside of the family environment. These factors have been analyzed and explained through the perspective of attachment-theory, a salutogene perspective and with ecological systems theory. Our findings suggest that there exists several important relationships between our result, the previous research and what the theories suggest is important for children as protective factors. They are: basic need of security, need of development and understanding and finally an importance in the needs for children to have a sense of coherence.

The aim of this study was to receive a rapt understanding of how child-welfare officer’s reasons about the meaning of attachment theory, from the child´s best, in placements of a child. The aim was also to examine the possibilities child-welfare officer´s feel they have to work with the child´s best and attachment in focus. The study has a qualitative approach and the empirical material is collected thru semi-structured interviews. The theoretical framework used is attachment theory, the child´s best and street-level bureaucracy. The result of the study shows that child-welfare officers have equivalent knowledge, experiences and thoughts about the meaning of attachment theory for a favorable development in foster children. The study concludes is that more knowledge about attachment theory is necessary and child-welfare officers demands methods to better assess attachment patterns in children. The child-welfare officers express frustration when they talk about matters in the "grey area" and situations where different perspectives clashes and the child´s best end up in the background. / Studiens syfte var att erhålla en fördjupad förståelse för hur socialsekreterare i den sociala barnavården resonerar om anknytningens betydelse, utifrån barnets bästa, vid familjehemsplacering av ett barn. Syftet var också att ta reda på vilka möjligheter socialsekreterare upplever sig ha att arbeta med barnets bästa och anknytning i fokus. Studien har en kvalitativ ansats och materialet är insamlat genom semistrukturerade intervjuer. Den teoretiska tolkningsram som används är anknytningsteori, barnets bästa samt gräsrotsbyråkrati. Studiens resultat visar att socialsekreterare har likvärdiga kunskaper, erfarenheter och tankar om anknytningens betydelse för en gynnsam utveckling hos familjehemsplacerade barn. Studiens slutsats är att mer kunskap om anknytningsteori är nödvändig och socialsekreterare efterfrågar metoder för att bättre kunna bedöma anknytningsmönster hos barn. Socialsekreterarna ger uttryck för frustration när de berättar om så kallade gråzonsärenden och situationer där olika perspektiv är i konflikt och barnets bästa hamnar i skymundan.

The purpose of this scientific essay is to examine the relationship between different forms of knowledge and emotions which can arise in relationships at work in preschool. I use writing as a method for reflection, which creates openings for new perspectives that brings me closer to the core of the dilemma. I start from two different events taken from induction at two different times in my work life and the dilemma is from my own experiences. I state these questions to myself; Which expectations do I have for myself and my colleagues in relation to theoretical perspective and emotions? What role does the collegial interaction when negative emotions arise? What place do emotions have in the activities? How can we use educational theory with practical knowledge so they interact with each other in the work at the preschool? In an attempt to answer these questions I write a discussion on the relationship between emotions and knowledge from different perspectives. In both situations I mention the attachment theory both because it has great significance in connection with induction but also to enforce that theories needs to coexist with other knowledge in the work in preschool. Aristoteles three forms of knowledge, confidence in relationships and the importance of reflection are some of the things I write about in my text. Through this essay I want to show that there are more than theoretical standpoints that makes us professional educators while highlighting that there is not a given truth for how we should do to become and be a professional educator in preschool. / Syftet med denna vetenskapliga essä är att undersöka relationen mellan olika kunskapsformer och känslor som kan uppstå i relationer i arbetet på förskola. Jag använder skrivandet som en metod för reflektion, som skapar öppningar för nya perspektiv vilket för mig närmare kärnan i dilemmat. Jag utgår från två olika händelser tagna ur inskolningen vid olika tidsepoker i mitt yrkesliv och dilemmat är egenupplevt. Jag ställer mig frågor som; Vilka förväntningar har jag  på mig själv och på mina kollegor i relation till teoretiska perspektiv och känslor? Vilken roll spelar det kollegiala samspelet när negativa känslor uppstår? Vilken plats får känslorna ta i verksamheten? Hur kan vi använda pedagogisk teori med den praktiska kunskapen så att de samspelar med varandra i arbetet på förskolan? I ett försök att svara på frågorna för jag i texten en diskussion kring relationen mellan känslor och kunskap utifrån olika perspektiv. I båda situationer nämner jag anknytningsteorin för den har stor betydelse i samband med inskolning men även för att tydliggöra att teorier behöver samspela med andra kunskaper i arbetet i förskolan. Aristoteles tre kunskapsformer, trygghet i relationer samt reflektionens betydelse är några av de saker jag tar upp i min text. Genom denna essä vill jag visa att det finns något mer än teoretiska ställningstaganden som gör oss till professionella pedagoger och samtidigt belysa att det inte finns en given sanning för hur vi ska göra för att bli och vara en professionell pedagog i förskolan.

Syfte: Syftet med den här studien är att förstå hur anknytningen kan påverkas hos barn som växer upp med föräldrar som under uppväxten är i ett aktivt missbruk eller lider av psykisk ohälsa. Studien syftar samtidigt till att beskriva vilket typ av stöd deltagarna, som växt upp med föräldrar som lidit av psykisk ohälsa eller varit i ett aktivt missbruk, upplevt att de blivit erbjudna från socialtjänsten eller annan instans. Metod: Fem personer över 18 år har intervjuats om hur deras uppväxt sett ut, relationen till föräldrarna, stödet från socialtjänsten och hur de ser på sin uppväxt idag. Resultat: Studien visar att barn som växer upp med föräldrar som är i ett aktivt missbruk eller lider av psykisk ohälsa kan uppleva en otrygg anknytning till sina föräldrar samt problem i det vuxna livet som ett resultat av en osäker och otrygg uppväxt. / Aim:The aim of this study is to understand how attachment during childhood can be affected when children grow up with parents who suffer from mental illness or drug or alcohol abuse. Additionally, the study aims to analyze what kind of support the participants, who were raised with parents suffering from mental illness or been in active drug or alcohol abuse, receive from social services and how they look at their childhood today. Method: Five persons over the age of 18 years old were interviewed about their childhood, the relationship to their parents, the support from the social services and how they feel about their childhood in adulthood. Result: The study shows that children who grow up together with parents who have a drug or alcohol abuse during the childhood can experience anxious attachment towards their parents and issues during the adult life as a result of an insecure and anxious childhood.

Titel:” To Save a Perpetrator”  An interview study about domestic violence and the treatment of the perpetrator The purpose of this study was to investigate the treatments available to perpetrators of domestic violence. The study is based on qualitative interviews with four people who all work with perpetrators of domestic violence in some way. The result has been analyzed with the help of attachment theory, behaviorism, violence - dominance and masculinity. The results show that there are various forms of treatment for the perpetrators. According to the interviewees there is no follow-up on whether the efforts help. The interviewees also described that these treatments are all individually adapted to the perpetrator's needs and that there is a resistance among the perpetrators to be included in group treatments. In addition, the treatments were described as often related to volunteerism under some constraint. The lack of attachment and the complexity of the treatment are discussed.

This cross-sectional study presented two aims: 1) to examine whether associations could be found between athletes’ use of communication strategies conflict management, openness and support, and athletes’ perceptions of coach-athlete relationship quality, and 2) to examine whether athletes’ attachment style (secure, anxious-ambivalent or avoidant) would act as a moderator for this association. A sample of 396 athletes (males = 183, females = 210) whose age ranged from 15 to 60 years (mean age = 19.17, SD = 4.59 years). The sample was recruited from a variety of both individual and team sports. In order to participate, athletes responded a questionnaire, online or in paper version. Statistical analyses were performed in IBM SPSS 24 and Amos 24, and by using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results confirmed associations between athletes’ use of the selected communication strategies and their perceptions of the coach-athlete relationship quality. Regarding moderating effects, athletes’ attachment style was shown to have a significant moderation effect on a majority of the found associations. Suggestions for future research is to examine more of the communication strategies presented in the COMPASS model, in order to strengthen the model’s practical use. Also, longitudinal studies would complement these findings, as well as qualitative research for a deepened understanding of the communication strategies. / Denna tvärsnittsstudie hade två syften: 1) att undersöka om det fanns ett samband mellan idrottares användande av kommunikationsstrategierna konflikthantering, öppenhet och stöd och deras skattning av kvaliteten på relationen till tränaren, samt 2) att undersöka om idrottares anknytningsstil (trygg, ambivalent och undvikande) hade påverkan det sambandet. 396 idrottare (män = 183, kvinnor = 210 ) i åldrarna 15-60 år (medelålder = 19.17, SD = 4.59 år). Urvalet rekryterades från både individ- och lagidrott. För att delta fyllde idrottarna i ett formulär, i webb- eller pappersform. Statistiska analyser utfördes i IBM SPSS och Amos 24, samt genom Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Resultaten bekräftade samband mellan idrottares användande av de valda kommunikationsstrategierna och deras skattning av kvaliteten på tränar-idrottare-relationen. Idrottarnas anknytningsstil visade sig ha en statistiskt signifikant modererande effekt på de funna sambanden. Förslag för vidare forskning är att undersöka fler av de kommunikationsstrategier som presenteras i COMPASS-modellen, för att kunna stärka modellens praktiska användning. Dessutom skulle longitudinella studier kunna komplettera dessa resultat, liksom kvalitativ forskning för att få en djupare förståelse för kommunikationsstrategierna.

<p>The overall purpose of this study is to make a survey of the extent as to which youths have witnessed acts of violence and or violence in close relationships, and which underlying factors, sex, class, and ethnicity – characterize youths with such experiences. The study also aims to explore their attitudes and strategies and what the consequences are for youths of witnessing acts of violence, with respect to attachment to adults and other social networks. The primary data have been collected in two upper secondary schools. The study includes 101 students. The data were acquired through a survey consisting of 21 questions on the students’ background, general state of health, violence in general, whether they had witnessed/experienced the phenomenon, relations to closely-related adults/other social networks. All data have been analyzed in SPSS. The resulting material has been analyzed according to published previous research and theories of attachment. Five percent of the respondents stated that they had witnessed acts of violence in close relationships. The underlying factors sex and ethnicity seem to be significant. Despite having experience violence, these youths have comparatively good relations to closely-related adults, though they state that they would rather discuss the phenomenon with grown-ups at school.</p>

The overall purpose of this study is to make a survey of the extent as to which youths have witnessed acts of violence and or violence in close relationships, and which underlying factors, sex, class, and ethnicity – characterize youths with such experiences. The study also aims to explore their attitudes and strategies and what the consequences are for youths of witnessing acts of violence, with respect to attachment to adults and other social networks. The primary data have been collected in two upper secondary schools. The study includes 101 students. The data were acquired through a survey consisting of 21 questions on the students’ background, general state of health, violence in general, whether they had witnessed/experienced the phenomenon, relations to closely-related adults/other social networks. All data have been analyzed in SPSS. The resulting material has been analyzed according to published previous research and theories of attachment. Five percent of the respondents stated that they had witnessed acts of violence in close relationships. The underlying factors sex and ethnicity seem to be significant. Despite having experience violence, these youths have comparatively good relations to closely-related adults, though they state that they would rather discuss the phenomenon with grown-ups at school.

The purpose of the essay is to draw attention to my approach in relation to a boy I choose to call Emil, and how I can increase my understanding of his behavior. I explore conceivable reasons for why he breaks down so often, especially when other children are given attention. Is he simply unusually egoistic, and to a large degree only able to see to his own interests, or am I overlooking the real reasons for his actions. In order to explain the reasons for Emil’s apparent frustration in sensitive situations, I explore the significance of attachment theory. I argue about possible effects of Emil’s parents’ way of describing and guiding him, as well as how I, and my colleagues, risk fulfilling and amplifying negative expectations. As the prime reason for his repeated sense of unhappiness seems linked to a lack of empathy, I explore different ways of understanding this, as well as how I might contribute to fostering compassion. As members of a team, we strive to act in a proper way in relation to Emil. I discuss in what way our consensus can serve the good purpose, as well as how our perceived "truths" risk strengthening dominance. As stressful situations contribute to feelings of irritation regarding Emil’s apparent jealousy, I try to explain how getting closer to one’s own darkness can contribute to an increased sense of respect and understanding. Finally, I examine current views on leadership, where the previous approach focusing largely on the mediation of knowledge has given way to new ideas that stress the importance of creating security as a basis for all learning. I discuss the high demands that are placed on the pedagogue’s sense of awareness and mediating in the children’s acquisition of knowledge, as well as the importance of creating trusting relations.

This study focuses on the use of animals in social work from the perspective of social workers. The purpose of this study is to examine social workers’ experiences of animal assisted social work and how social workers view the integration of animals in various fields of social work. The research is based on a qualitative method and four semi-structured interviews were conducted with social workers. The theories incorporated in the study are Attachment Theory and Sense of Coherence (SOC). The following results are presented: Social workers are considered to have a more comprehensive understanding of clients compared to their associates who do not hold a degree in Social Work. The Social Work Programme prepares you for work in various roles in numerous work places and the social workers claim to sympathise with the many aspects which affect clients. Some of the positive aspects of incorporating animals in social work include opportunities to experience the outdoors and exercise when spending time with the animals but also the additional satisfaction of being able to offer clients these benefits. The social workers are aware of potential safety risks in handling and associating with the animals and these safety risks appear to have a negative impact on animal assisted social work. According to the social workers, animal allergies can be minimized and should not be the focal point. SOC and its three components – Comprehensibility, Manageability and Meaningfulness have been applied to the social workers experiences of animal assisted social work and their experiences shared indicate that animals can hold properties of an attachment figure. Animals have a calming effect on clients, and assist in the connection between social worker and client.