Psychological distress among care leavers during the transition to adulthood: Risk and protective factors throughout their life course

Sulimani‐Aidan, Yafit; Achdut, Netta; Zeira, Anat; Benbenishty, Rami

doi:10.1111/cfs.12887

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 80 publications

(117 reference statements)

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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%

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%

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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“…This investigation is of particular interest in emerging adulthood, a distinct developmental phase in which young adults make many significant decisions in central spheres of life that shape their future (Arnett & Mitra, 2020). During this formative period, young people are required to cope with complex instrumental and developmental tasks, including the pursuit of employment opportunities, higher education, new social networks, and the establishment of intimate relationships (Sulimani-Aidan et al, 2021). Impaired subjective well-being may threaten young adults’ ability to acquire the skills and experience they need to assume adult roles and responsibilities and become healthy and productive members of society.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethnic inequality between Arabs and Jews in Israel in global life satisfaction: A social determinants examination among young adults.

Achdut

2024

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry

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Global life satisfaction (GLS), a core construct of subjective well-being, plays a vital role in positive development among young adults. Persistent inequality in subjective well-being across minority versus majority groups is a growing public health concern. However, research evidence on the minority-majority disparity in GLS among representative samples of young adults is scarce. Based on national data from Israel (N = 2,405), this study examines (a) the association of multiple forms of economic (not in education, employment, or training status, subjective socioeconomic status indicators), social-relational (trust, discrimination, loneliness), and environmental determinants (neighborhood conditions) with GLS among young adults from a minority-majority (Israeli Arabs-Israeli Jews) perspective; (b) whether minority-majority disparity in GLS can be explained by differential health returns for the determinants considered across participants from the two groups; (c) whether minority-majority disparities in GLS persist when controlling for these determinants, suggesting the effect of ethnicity per se. Significant disparities in GLS by ethnicity were found, with young Arab adults far less likely to be satisfied or very satisfied with their lives. Hierarchical logistic regression indicated that economic, social-relational, and environmental determinants shape GLS, but these factors do not eliminate the adverse effect of minority status on GLS. While social-relational and environmental factors uniformly affect GLS across minority and majority participants, economic factors were less influential among the Arab minority, suggesting lower health returns for economic resources among young Arab adults. Implications for policies aimed at promoting health equity and social justice are discussed. Public Policy Relevance StatementYoung adults' global life satisfaction (GLS) is shaped by their multifaceted positions within demographic, economic, social, and environmental stratification systems, with those at the bottom of the ladder across the various domains demonstrating poor GLS. While social determinants from these domains, including discrimination, drive inequality in GLS, they do not eliminate the adverse effect of ethnicity on young adults' GLS, suggesting that ethnicity per se affects GLS. Disparities in GLS can be narrowed only by addressing multiple forms of disadvantage. Combined policy measures should be taken to reduce financial deprivation and decrease the prevalence of young people detached from education and employment. Expanding access to postsecondary education and vocational training, particularly among ethnic minorities, should be viewed as a central path to promoting young adults' subjective and material well-being. Inequality in GLS can be further reduced by combating discrimination, loneliness, and low levels of social trust. Investment in environmental living conditions-neighborhood physical attributes and safety-is needed to promote equity in GLS and environmental justice. Inequality in subjective well-be...

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“…This integrated database includes full administrative information for the entire 16 cohorts (e.g., invariant demographic characteristics, family background indicators, educational attainment, employment). For a detailed description, see Sulimani-Aidan et al (2022). Of these 16 cohorts, eight cohorts-born in 1988-1995 and leaving care in 2006-2013-constituted the sampling frame for the present study, a total of 26,433 alumni, stratified by year of birth.…”

Section: Methods Population and Samplementioning

confidence: 99%

“…A preliminary examination showed minor to moderate differences between the sample and the entire corresponding cohort of the youth village population in the original study population in terms of family background, participants' demographic characteristics, and educational achievements at the end of placement. Thus, this study was based on a representative sample (for a detailed comparison between the study sample and the population from which the sample was drawn, see Sulimani-Aidan et al, 2022). A total of 182 (7.2%) observations had missing information in the survey data (there was no missing information in the administrative files).…”

Section: Methods Population and Samplementioning

confidence: 99%

Unveiling the role of residential care in care leavers’ personal development and life outcomes.

Sulimani-Aidan,

Achdut,

Benbenishty

et al. 2024

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry

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Psychological distress among care leavers during the transition to adulthood: Risk and protective factors throughout their life course

Cited by 8 publications

References 80 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

Ethnic inequality between Arabs and Jews in Israel in global life satisfaction: A social determinants examination among young adults.

Unveiling the role of residential care in care leavers’ personal development and life outcomes.

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