Accelerated adulthood, extended adolescence and the care cliff: Supporting care leavers' transition from care to independent living

Palmer, Angela; Norris, Michelle; Kelleher, Joanne

doi:10.1111/cfs.12922

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Similarly, Frontline (2022) offers a two-year training programme to fully equip individuals with the knowledge and experience needed to effectively support care leavers. The need for additional training programmes is supported by research (Sulimani‐Aidan et al , 2021; Palmer et al , 2022), who discovered the importance of effective professional support during the transition period.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Butterworth et al (2017) suggested the consensus among participants was that there was a lack of understanding between professionals' knowledge of mental health and a lack of specialised knowledge of children in care and care leavers when it came to the mental health services. Palmer et al, 2022), who discovered the importance of effective professional support during the transition period.…”

Section: Training Given To Care Professionals and Caregiversmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Study focus and results tableTable by authorsisolation within the care home due to restrictions and detachment from the real world Rahamim and Mendes (2015). discovered care leavers were more likely to feel isolated if their transition to independence was rushed Palmer et al (2022). found care leavers feeling isolated typically turned to inappropriate behaviour, highlighting the overarching theme of interconnectedness and interplay.…”

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confidence: 99%

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The effect of provisions on the mental health of young adult care leavers. A systematic review

Rice

O’Connor

2023

JCS

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Purpose Care leavers are identified as a vulnerable group within UK society and, unsurprisingly, are more susceptible to mental health problems. Research highlights inadequacies among UK Government provisions combined with poorer outcomes for care leavers. This paper aims to measure the effectiveness of provisions on mental health when transitioning from the care system to adulthood. Design/methodology/approach A systematic review was conducted to identify and highlight the inadequacies of provisions in place to aid a care leaver’s transition and the effects on their mental health. Of the 211 studies identified from the search, six studies met the eligibility criteria and were deemed eligible by the researcher for further exploration of themes. Findings The findings identified feeling isolated, training given to care professionals and caregivers, collaboration, lack of preparation and support and access and gaps in provisions as the five key themes. The overarching theme of interconnectedness and interplay between subthemes, mental health and a care leaver’s transition, is strongly presented throughout. Many participants within the individual studies reported negative findings illustrating the weaknesses of provisions and the negative effect on their mental health. Furthermore, the findings emphasise the unique nature of everyone’s experience transitioning out of the care system. Research limitations/implications A limitation of the review is the selection of key words, which may have restricted the results produced during the main search, subsequently affecting the amount of relevant data extracted and synthesised. Finally, less emphasis on grey literature and more on empirical studies reduces the probability of discovering null or negative findings, therefore increasing the chances of publication bias (Paez, 2017). A small number of eligible studies increase the risk of not making important comparisons, prompting a wider search to be conducted in the future. An unequal ratio between national and international research in the systematic review restricts fresh perspectives and strategies concerning the mental health of care leavers. Practical implications Care leavers are identified as a vulnerable group within society and, unsurprisingly, are more susceptible to mental health problems. The UK Government enforces national and local policies to support young adults leaving the care system and transitioning to independence. However, previous research highlights inadequacies among provisions, combined with poorer mental health outcomes for care leavers. Social implications Following on from gaps in the current findings, an investigation into regional disparities across provisions aimed at assisting care leavers transitioning to independence would produce useful information for the field and policymakers. Although current research addresses the essence of interplay between mental health and transitioning, further research is required to help build a supporting argument for adaptations and improvements in policies and practice. Originality/value This study supports the argument for an increase in attention from the UK Government and policymakers to improve the quality and quantity of support for a population often underserved and marginalised, especially in terms of reducing poorer mental health outcomes.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Training Given To Care Professionals and Caregiversmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The effect of provisions on the mental health of young adult care leavers. A systematic review

Rice

O’Connor

2023

JCS

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“…Broadly, individuals with alternative care experience tend to have poorer outcomes in adulthood. They have higher rates of criminal activity, unemployment, homelessness and poverty (Berejena Mhongera & Lombard, 2016; Diraditsile & Nyadza, 2018; Palmer et al, 2022; Sekibo, 2020; Sulimani‐Aidan, 2017). Adults who experienced alternative care as children are more likely to attempt suicide and abuse substances (Berlin et al, 2011), have lower life satisfaction and subjective well‐being (Llosada‐Gistau et al, 2015; Pound & Sims‐Schouten, 2022; Refaeli et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The relationship between adverse childhood experiences, health and life satisfaction in adults with care experience: The mediating role of attachment

Howard

Gwenzi

Taylor

et al. 2023

Child & Family Social Work

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Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with a plethora of negative outcomes. Research has also found that adults who were separated from parental care and lived in alternative care settings during childhood have high levels of ACEs and are more likely to have poor outcomes. A growing body of research has supported the importance of attachment as a mechanism underlying the relationship between ACEs and adult wellbeing. However, little work has examined the role that attachment may play in the outcomes of adults who resided in residential and foster care during childhood. The current study examined the role of attachment avoidance and anxiety in the associations between ACEs and mental health, physical health, and life satisfaction in a sample of 529 adults with alternative care experience from 11 nations. Attachment avoidance partially mediated the relationship between ACEs and life satisfaction, mental health, and physical health. Attachment anxiety partially mediated the relationship between ACEs and life satisfaction and mental health, but not physical health. Taken together, the present study suggests that both attachment anxiety and avoidance play important, but unique, roles in understanding the relationship between ACEs and health and wellbeing for adults with care experience.Implications and limitations are discussed.

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“…In addition to biological parents, these youth are often separated from their siblings, friends, and communities of origin [ 16 ]. Young adults who experienced separation from parental care during childhood are more likely to experience negative outcomes in adulthood including a higher risk of self-harm [ 17 ], violent criminal behavior [ 18 ], and homelessness [ 19 ]. Previous studies have also shown evidence of poor mental health, lower life satisfaction, insecure attachment, and less resilience among young adults with care experience due to their limited social connections [ 12 , 20 , 21 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Relationship between Sense of Belonging and Well-Being Outcomes in Emerging Adults with Care Experience

Howard,

Dadirai Gwenzi,

Newsom

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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Robust social resources that lead to a healthy sense of belonging are imperative during emerging adulthood. However, young adults with alternative care experience, such as residential or foster care, often lack the social resources necessary to transition to adulthood successfully. Though some research has examined the importance of social resources in this population, less is known about a sense of belonging, which is associated with these social resources. The current study examined the association between care experience, belonging, and well-being outcomes among emerging adults (n = 703) who were separated from their biological parents during care and received alternative care in 16 nations. The presence of belonging was associated with type of alternative care, age at separation, and reason for separation. There was also an association between belonging and well-being outcomes, including homelessness and suicidal ideation. Adults lacking a sense of belonging reported higher rates of homelessness and suicidal ideation, lower life satisfaction, and lower resilience. The study has global implications for enhancing social support for emerging adults with care experience in order to facilitate a sense of belonging as a social resource.

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Accelerated adulthood, extended adolescence and the care cliff: Supporting care leavers' transition from care to independent living

Cited by 7 publications

References 37 publications

The effect of provisions on the mental health of young adult care leavers. A systematic review

The effect of provisions on the mental health of young adult care leavers. A systematic review

The relationship between adverse childhood experiences, health and life satisfaction in adults with care experience: The mediating role of attachment

The Relationship between Sense of Belonging and Well-Being Outcomes in Emerging Adults with Care Experience

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