Mattering in Danish out-of-home care

This study aims (1) to deepen understanding of the concept of mattering through the experiences of youth in out-of-home care (OOH), and (2) to illuminate youths’ experiences of OOH through mattering. Drawing on qualitative semi-structured interviews with young people in Denmark recently placed in OOH and using reflexive thematic analysis, the study examines how feeling valued and adding value are lived across arenas central to participants’ lives. Four themes highlight the pragmatic nature of mattering in OOH. First, mattering was linked to being listened to, with participants describing hierarchical patterns of voice in which professionals’ perspectives carried the greatest weight. Second, feeling valued often emerged when adults acted beyond standardized procedures. Third, adding value was frequently prioritized as a pathway to becoming and feeling valuable, but translated into mattering only when met with recognition and emotional responsiveness. Finally, constrained contexts sometimes fostered self-surrendering mattering strategies that proved unsustainable over time.