Introduction
Every year, due to economic and social pressures, parents leave a large number of children in the community, which is the most common form of care for these children around the world, care and living in pseudo-family centers (boarding houses). The aim of this study was to investigate the lived experience of teenage girls living in pseudo-family centers (boarding houses).
Method
The method of the present study was descriptive phenomenology. Based on the sampling method focused on criteria and theoretical saturation criteria, 26 adolescent girls who had the experience of living in pseudo-family centers in 1399 (2020) participated in this study. Semi-structured interview method was used for data collection and Kolaizi’s seven-step method was used for data analysis.
Findings
Analysis of the information obtained from the interviews revealed eight main themes: negative emotions, psychological empowerment, attitude to life, lack of coping skills, mental preoccupations, needs, social anxiety, and orientation towards a successful future.
Discussion
The results of the present study showed that adolescent girls living in such centers, in addition to being psychologically empowered and oriented towards the future, were successful with challenges and issues, such as abandonment, depressed mood, behavioral problems and injuries, discharge and its problems, group life problems, fear of the future, social stigma and deficiencies such as lack of family and emotional deficiencies.
