IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i13p6935-d584139.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Crossing Countries and Crossing Ages: The Difficult Transition to Adulthood of Unaccompanied Migrant Care Leavers

Author

Listed:
  • Federica Gullo

    (Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain)

  • Laura García-Alba

    (Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain)

  • Amaia Bravo

    (Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain)

  • Jorge F. del Valle

    (Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain)

Abstract

The social changes experienced in many countries have prolonged the transition to adult life for young people. That being said, those who leave child care cannot afford this privilege, in that they do not benefit from the same support and resources, having to confront an accelerated transition which exposes them to increased risk of negative outcomes and social exclusion. Moreover, this transition might be even riskier for unaccompanied migrant care leavers, who are four times as vulnerable, given their status as young people in care, as adolescents, as migrants and being unaccompanied. This paper seeks to explore the profiles, needs, and experiences of unaccompanied young migrants in comparison with other care leavers. Data were collected by means of a semi-structured interview to explore their pre-care, in-care, and aftercare experiences. A highly specific profile of unaccompanied young migrants has been revealed that differs from the other care leavers in terms of worse educational, occupational, and economic outcomes, limited support networks, and more obstacles to accessing aftercare supports. Conversely, they also exhibited some strengths, such as having less pre-care, in care, and aftercare traumatic experiences, less psychological distress and fewer risky behaviors compared with other care leavers.

Suggested Citation

  • Federica Gullo & Laura García-Alba & Amaia Bravo & Jorge F. del Valle, 2021. "Crossing Countries and Crossing Ages: The Difficult Transition to Adulthood of Unaccompanied Migrant Care Leavers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-14, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:13:p:6935-:d:584139
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/13/6935/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/13/6935/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Harder, Annemiek T. & Mann-Feder, Varda & Oterholm, Inger & Refaeli, Tehila, 2020. "Supporting transitions to adulthood for youth leaving care: Consensus based principles," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    2. 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.
    3. Wade, Jim, 2011. "Preparation and transition planning for unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee young people: A review of evidence in England," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(12), pages 2424-2430.
    4. Stewart, C. Joy & Kum, Hye-Chung & Barth, Richard P. & Duncan, Dean F., 2014. "Former foster youth: Employment outcomes up to age 30," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 220-229.
    5. 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.
    6. Gimeno-Monterde, Chabier & Gutiérrez-Sánchez, José David, 2019. "Fostering unaccompanied migrating minors. A cross-border comparison," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 36-42.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Edgar Iglesias & Carme Montserrat & Judit Gallart & Cayetano Gomez, 2023. "Participation, Leisure and Social Networks as Key Factors in the Inclusion of Young Unaccompanied Migrants," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(3), pages 897-915, June.
    2. Noelia Parejo-Jiménez & Jorge Expósito-López & Ramón Chacón-Cuberos & Eva María Olmedo-Moreno, 2022. "Critical Thinking and Motivation in Vocational Training and Baccalaureate: A Comparison Study of Students of Spanish Nationality, Unaccompanied Foreign Minors and Young Care Leavers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-16, April.

    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. Jill R. McTavish & Christine McKee & Masako Tanaka & Harriet L. MacMillan, 2022. "Child Welfare Reform: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-24, October.
    2. Orri, Massimiliano & Côté, Sylvana M. & Marttila, Mikko & Ristikari, Tiina, 2021. "Childhood out-of-home placement and pathways to adult socioeconomic outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    3. Hagleitner, Wolfgang & Sting, Stephan & Maran, Thomas, 2022. "Socio-economic status and living situation of care leavers in Austria," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    4. Collins, Mary Elizabeth & Spindle-Jackson, Adrianna & Yao, Mengni, 2021. "Workforce development systems efforts for system-involved youth: Opportunities and challenges," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    5. Fernández-Simo, Deibe & CId Fernández, Xosé Manuel & Carrera Fernández, María Victoria, 2020. "Deficits of adaptability and reversibility in the socio-educational strategy for youth in protection services during the transition to adult life," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    6. Lindner, Abigail Rose & Hanlon, Ryan, 2024. "Outcomes of youth with foster care experiences based on permanency outcome – Adoption, aging out, long-term foster care, and reunification: A systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    7. Melkman, Eran P. & Benbenishty, Rami, 2018. "Social support networks of care leavers: Mediating between childhood adversity and adult functioning," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 176-187.
    8. Brady, Eavan & Gilligan, Robbie, 2019. "Exploring diversity in the educational pathways of care-experienced adults: Findings from a life course study of education and care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 1-1.
    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. Ángel De-Juanas & Francisco Javier García-Castilla & Diego Galán-Casado & Jorge Díaz-Esterri, 2020. "Time Management by Young People in Social Difficulties: Suggestions for Improving Their Life Trajectories," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-18, December.
    11. Simmons-Horton, Sherri Y., 2017. "Providing age-appropriate activities for youth in foster care: Policy implementation process in three states," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 383-391.
    12. Andersen, Signe Hald, 2019. "The effect of aftercare on human capital acquisition among foster care alumni," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 28-41.
    13. 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).
    14. Refaeli, Tehila, 2017. "Narratives of care leavers: What promotes resilience in transitions to independent lives?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1-9.
    15. Hébert, Sophie T. & Esposito, Tonino & Hélie, Sonia, 2018. "How short-term placements affect placement trajectories: A propensity-weighted analysis of re-entry into care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 117-124.
    16. 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.
    17. Cameron, Claire & Hollingworth, Katie & Schoon, Ingrid & van Santen, Eric & Schröer, Wolfgang & Ristikari, Tiina & Heino, Tarja & Pekkarinen, Elina, 2018. "Care leavers in early adulthood: How do they fare in Britain, Finland and Germany?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 163-172.
    18. Dominic Richardson & UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti, 2018. "Key Findings on Families, Family Policy and the Sustainable Development Goals: Synthesis Report," Papers inorer948, Innocenti Research Report.
    19. Fred Wulczyn & Xiaomeng Zhou & Jamie McClanahan & Scott Huhr & Kristen Hislop & Forrest Moore & Emily Rhodes, 2023. "Race, Poverty, and Foster Care Placement in the United States: Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional Perspectives," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(16), pages 1-19, August.
    20. Cassarino-Perez, Luciana & Crous, Gemma & Goemans, Anouk & Montserrat, Carme & Sarriera, Jorge Castellà, 2018. "From care to education and employment: A meta-analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 407-416.

    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:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:13:p:6935-:d:584139. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.