IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v95y2018icp134-143.html

Transition to adult life of young people leaving foster care: A qualitative systematic review

Author

Listed:
  • Häggman-Laitila, Arja
  • Salokekkilä, Pirkko
  • Karki, Suyen

Abstract

The transition to adult life of looked-after young people depends on a combination and interaction of multiple contributing factors such as past experiences, challenges faced by the young people in their current life situation, the support they have received and their personal strengths. Several reviews and studies have reported of poor outcomes for care leavers and indicate that this is a worldwide phenomenon. A lower level of support in the transition process increases the risk for social exclusion, homelessness, unemployment, low education, financial difficulties and behavioral problems. The aim of this review was to gather, assess and synthesize the current empirical evidence of transition to adult life from the perspective of young people leaving foster care. A systematic review was conducted in six scientific databases to identify relevant qualitative studies published from 2010 to 2017, and 21 studies met the inclusion criteria. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the checklist for qualitative studies of the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (2017). Data were analyzed using a narrative method. Care leavers had two views of their transition to adult life. The views differed clearly based on the care leavers' experiences of their capabilities, emotions and identity. The care leaving process was described as an unprepared and unfocused process which provided the care leavers no opportunities for participating in the decision-making concerning their future. The young people had acquired few survival skills for independent living in aftercare. Care leavers often lacked the support of family members, former care providers and institutional bodies. The challenges young people often faced during the transition to independent living were concerned with academic qualifications, housing problems, employment and financial instability, building relationships and assimilating to cultural norms, and access to health care. The results of the review can be utilized in the development of services and in designing future studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Häggman-Laitila, Arja & Salokekkilä, Pirkko & Karki, Suyen, 2018. "Transition to adult life of young people leaving foster care: A qualitative systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 134-143.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:95:y:2018:i:c:p:134-143
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.08.017
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740918304407
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.08.017?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sulimani-Aidan, Yafit, 2015. "Do they get what they expect?: The connection between young adults' future expectations before leaving care and outcomes after leaving care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 193-200.
    2. Jackson, Sonia & Cameron, Claire, 2012. "Leaving care: Looking ahead and aiming higher," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(6), pages 1107-1114.
    3. Paulsen, Veronika & Berg, Berit, 2016. "Social support and interdependency in transition to adulthood from child welfare services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 125-131.
    4. E.S. Everson-Hock & R. Jones & L. Guillaume & J. Clapton & A. Duenas & E. Goyder & J. Chilcott & J. Cooke & N. Payne & L.M. Sheppard & C. Swann, 2011. "Supporting the transition of looked-after young people to independent living: a systematic review of interventions and adult outcomes," Post-Print hal-00800435, HAL.
    5. Lawler, Michael J. & Sayfan, Liat & Goodman, Gail S. & Narr, Rachel & Cordon, Ingrid M., 2014. "Comprehensive residential education: A promising model for emerging adults in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 10-19.
    6. Havlicek, Judy R. & Garcia, Antonio R. & Smith, Douglas C., 2013. "Mental health and substance use disorders among foster youth transitioning to adulthood: Past research and future directions," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 194-203.
    7. Nho, Choong Rai & Park, Eun Hye & McCarthy, Mary L., 2017. "Case studies of successful transition from out-of-home placement to young adulthood in Korea," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 315-324.
    8. Anghel, Roxana, 2011. "Transition within transition: How young people learn to leave behind institutional care whilst their carers are stuck in neutral," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(12), pages 2526-2531.
    9. Naert, Jan & Roose, Rudi & Rapp, Richard C. & Vanderplasschen, Wouter, 2017. "Continuity of care in youth services: A systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 116-126.
    10. Dutta, Satarupa, 2017. "Life after leaving care: Experiences of young Indian girls," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 266-273.
    11. Munson, Michelle R. & Jaccard, James & Smalling, Susan E. & Kim, Hyunsoo & Werner, James J. & Scott, Lionel D., 2012. "Static, dynamic, integrated, and contextualized: A framework for understanding mental health service utilization among young adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(8), pages 1441-1449.
    12. Berlin, Marie & Vinnerljung, Bo & Hjern, Anders, 2011. "School performance in primary school and psychosocial problems in young adulthood among care leavers from long term foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(12), pages 2489-2497.
    13. Hiles, Dominic & Moss, Duncan & Thorne, Lisa & Wright, John & Dallos, Rudi, 2014. "“So what am I?” — Multiple perspectives on young people's experience of leaving care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 1-15.
    14. Rutman, Deborah & Hubberstey, Carol, 2016. "Is anybody there? Informal supports accessed and sought by youth from foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 21-27.
    15. David Moher & Alessandro Liberati & Jennifer Tetzlaff & Douglas G Altman & The PRISMA Group, 2009. "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(7), pages 1-6, July.
    16. Ibrahim, Rawan W. & Howe, David, 2011. "The experience of Jordanian care leavers making the transition from residential care to adulthood: The influence of a patriarchal and collectivist culture," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(12), pages 2469-2474.
    17. Munson, Michelle R. & Scott, Lionel D. & Smalling, Susan E. & Kim, HyunSoo & Floersch, Jerry E., 2011. "Former system youth with mental health needs: Routes to adult mental health care, insight, emotions, and mistrust," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 2261-2266.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Frimpong-Manso, Kwabena, 2018. "Building and utilising resilience: The challenges and coping mechanisms of care leavers in Ghana," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 52-59.
    2. Toivonen, Katri & Salokekkilä, Pirkko & Puustelli, Anne & Häggman-Laitila, Arja, 2020. "Somatic and mental symptoms, medical treatments and service use in aftercare – Document analysis of Finnish care leavers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    3. Radityaputra, Rangga & Baidawi, Susan & Mendes, Philip, 2026. "A scoping review of policies and practices to support young people transitioning from out-of-home care in Asia," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    4. Blakeslee, Jennifer E. & Best, Jared I., 2019. "Understanding support network capacity during the transition from foster care: Youth-identified barriers, facilitators, and enhancement strategies," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 220-230.
    5. Gilligan, Robbie & Nguyen, Hoa Thi & Do, Nga Hanh, 2025. "Life beyond the care center: the lived experience of care leavers in Vietnam," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    6. Raymaekers, Anna & Nuytiens, An & Hermans, Koen, 2025. "The contribution of the social network of care leavers to a successful transition to adulthood: A realist review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    7. Gunawardena, Nathali & Stich, Christine, 2021. "Interventions for young people aging out of the child welfare system: A systematic literature review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    8. Reuben, Sasambal, 2024. "Networking people for goal attainment: Psychosocial processes facilitating resilience of care-leavers in South Africa," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    9. Karki, Suyen & Ryynänen, Olli-Pekka & Salokekkilä, Pirkko & Häggman-Laitila, Arja, 2023. "Bayesian analysis of the factors explaining the disruptive behaviour of care leavers: A retrospective document analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    10. Atwool, Nicola, 2020. "Transition from care: Are we continuing to set care leavers up to fail in New Zealand?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    11. Blakeslee, Jennifer E. & Kothari, Brianne H. & Miller, Rebecca A., 2023. "Intervention development to improve foster youth mental health by targeting coping self-efficacy and help-seeking," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    12. Haddow, Sonal & Taylor, Emily P. & Schwannauer, Matthias, 2021. "Positive peer relationships, coping and resilience in young people in alternative care: A systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    13. Kirkøen, Benedicte & Engell, Thomas & Follestad, Ingvild B. & Holen, Solveig & Hagen, Kristine Amlund, 2021. "Early academic struggles among children with home-based support from child welfare services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    14. Paul, June C., 2020. "Exploring support for LGBTQ youth transitioning from foster care to emerging adulthood," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    15. Doucet, Melanie M. & Greeson, Johanna K.P. & Eldeeb, Nehal, 2022. "Independent living programs and services for youth 'aging out' of care in Canada and the U.S.: A systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    16. Gypen, Laura & Vanderfaeillie, Johan & De Maeyer, Skrallan & Belenger, Laurence & Van Holen, Frank, 2017. "Outcomes of children who grew up in foster care: Systematic-review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 74-83.
    17. Hiles, Dominic & Moss, Duncan & Wright, John & Dallos, Rudi, 2013. "Young people's experience of social support during the process of leaving care: A review of the literature," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 2059-2071.
    18. Blakeslee, Jennifer & Miller, Rebecca & Uretsky, Mathew, 2022. "Efficacy of the Project Futures self-determination coaching model for college students with foster care backgrounds and mental health challenges," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    19. Ruff, Saralyn C. & Harrison, Kristi, 2020. "“Ask Me What I Want”: Community-based participatory research to explore transition-age foster Youth’s use of support services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    20. Townsend, Indra M. & Berger, Emily P. & Reupert, Andrea E., 2020. "Systematic review of the educational experiences of children in care: Children’s perspectives," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:95:y:2018:i:c:p:134-143. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.