Forming bonds and the self: A study on adolescents from defense backgrounds with frequent relocations

The present study explored how adolescents from defence backgrounds experiencing frequent relocations form peer attachments and negotiate identity within changing social environments. A qualitative research design using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was employed to examine the lived experiences of fifteen adolescents from defence backgrounds. Data were collected from 15 adolescents from defence background through semi-structured interviews and analyzed through an iterative process of coding, interpretation, and thematic development. The analysis generated five superordinate themes: repeated experiences of loss and disrupted belonging, rebuilding bonds through selective peer attachment, emotional and communicative adaptation, negotiation of identity across changing contexts, and resilience and meaning-making in mobility. The study highlights that relocation functions as both a developmental challenge and a resource, reshaping attachment processes and identity exploration during adolescence. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of psychosocial adjustment among defence adolescents and underscore the importance of supportive school environments and psychologically informed transition practices.