Research

Risk, Resilience and Identity Construction in the Life Narratives of Young People Leaving Residential Care

This paper explores the experiences of transition to adulthood of 20 young people leaving residential care.

The study focused on the development of resilience; the extent to which the young people's emotional and behavioural difficulties had been resolved; and whether they had a coherent identity and the necessary qualities, skills and coping strategies as they moved from residential care in early adulthood.

The authors identified four interacting factors associated with resilience that were key to successful transitions:

The specific ways in which young people defined themselves and their situation earlier in childhood continued to have an impact during adolescence and adulthood. The authors highlight the importance of nurturing relationships and a sense of "family", and also the role of support after leaving residential care.

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