Abstract
The present study examined the role of contextual support on mental health during the transition to adulthood within a vulnerable
group, adolescents leaving foster care because of their age. Participants were 265 19- to 23-year-olds who retrospectively
reported on 3 main contexts of emerging adulthood: housing security, educational achievement, and employment attainment in
the first 2 years after leaving foster care. Mental health measured self-reported emotional distress, substance abuse, and
deviancy at the time of interview. Growth Mixture Modeling empirically identified 3 latent trajectory classes. Stable-Engaged
(41%) experienced secure housing and increasing connections to education and employment over time. Stable-Disengaged (30%)
maintained housing but reported decreasing rates of education and small increases in employment. Instable-Disengaged (29%)
experienced chronic housing instability, declined connection to education, and failed to attain employment. Stable-Engaged
and Stable-Disengaged classes reported better mental health compared to the Instable-Disengaged class, indicating the importance
of housing in transitioning to adulthood.
group, adolescents leaving foster care because of their age. Participants were 265 19- to 23-year-olds who retrospectively
reported on 3 main contexts of emerging adulthood: housing security, educational achievement, and employment attainment in
the first 2 years after leaving foster care. Mental health measured self-reported emotional distress, substance abuse, and
deviancy at the time of interview. Growth Mixture Modeling empirically identified 3 latent trajectory classes. Stable-Engaged
(41%) experienced secure housing and increasing connections to education and employment over time. Stable-Disengaged (30%)
maintained housing but reported decreasing rates of education and small increases in employment. Instable-Disengaged (29%)
experienced chronic housing instability, declined connection to education, and failed to attain employment. Stable-Engaged
and Stable-Disengaged classes reported better mental health compared to the Instable-Disengaged class, indicating the importance
of housing in transitioning to adulthood.
- Content Type Journal Article
- DOI 10.1007/s10464-010-9401-2
- Authors
- Patrick J. Fowler, Department of Psychology, DePaul University, 2219 North Kenmore Avenue, Room 420, Chicago, IL 60614-3504, USA
- Paul A. Toro, Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, 5057 Woodward, 7th Floor, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- Bart W. Miles, School of Social Work, Wayne State University, 4756 Cass Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- Journal American Journal of Community Psychology
- Online ISSN 1573-2770
- Print ISSN 0091-0562