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Abstract
The way in which youth conceptualize their future and form beliefs related to what they can attain or achieve has important implications for later outcomes. For youth in the child welfare system that endorse varying levels of trauma severity, it is unclear what may buffer its impact on their future expectations. This study examined youths’ perceived relationship quality with their primary caregiver as well as their peers to explore whether they may have a moderating influence on the relationship between youth trauma symptoms and their expectations for the future. Our nationally representative sample of child welfare-involved youth has a robust sample size (N = 928). Additionally, it is unique in its approach of highlighting the perceptions that adolescent youth have regarding their self-rated likelihood of meeting milestones related to social prosperity. Results confirmed a negative correlation between youth trauma symptoms and future expectations and identified that while youths’ relationship quality with their primary caregiver and peers is significantly related to youth trauma symptoms and future expectations, those contextual social supports do not moderate that relationship. The findings support the need to continue examining contextual factors that may play a role in strengthening or diminishing the future expectations of youth at higher risk for developing symptoms of trauma.