Needs and characteristics of children and youth placed in child welfare institutions in Norway: Rapid review
Mapping review
|Published
We conducted a rapid review of Norwegian primary studies on the needs and characteristics of children and adolescents in child welfare institutions.
Key message
Most children and adolescents experience a safe and protected upbringing with one or both of their parents, but some are placed outside their home in child welfare institutions. We conducted a rapid review of Norwegian primary studies on the needs and characteristics of children and adolescents in child welfare institutions. We carried out thorough literature searches, selected studies published between 2014 and 2024, extracted data, and grouped the results narratively.
We included eight studies (20 publications). The studies used various study designs, mainly cross-sectional studies with registry data and questionnaires. All the studies reported on the characteristics of children and adolescents. None specifically examined their needs. The most prominent characteristics of children and adolescents in child welfare institutions were:
- Mental disorders, such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, personality disorders, and self-harm (seven studies).
- Challenges with schooling, such as low academic performance and high absenteeism (five studies).
- Substance abuse (four studies) and criminality (three studies).
Other characteristics included social support, quality of life, and abuse.
Norwegian studies from 2014-2024 on children and adolescents in child welfare institutions have primarily focused on their mental health, schooling, and substance abuse. Research that explicitly examines the needs of children and adolescents is lacking. More knowledge about their needs would be useful to ensure their safety and provide favorable conditions for personal development.