CYP Now - Care leavers ‘likely to suffer poor health 30 years later’

People who grew up in care are more likely to suffer from poor health in the decades that follow, new research shows.

Care experienced people are more likely to suffer poor mental health, researchers say. Picture: Adobe Stock

A joint study by University College London (UCL) and King’s College London analysed the data from 350,000 people who self-reported their health after 10, 20 and 30 years.

Adults who lived in residential care during childhood had a 40 per cent chance of reporting poor health 10 years later. This rose to an 85 per cent chance over the following two decades.

Those who grew up with a relative saw their chances of reporting ill health range from 21 per cent to 43 per cent over the 30-year period.

Adults who grew up with their parents only had a 13 per cent chance of reporting poor health after 10 years, rising to 21 per cent at both 20 and 30 years.

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