Profile of Chinese Young Adults Transitioning out of Foster Care: Stress, Coping Mechanisms, Behavior Problems, and Social Support

Background and Purposes:  

Since 1980s, the Chinese government has made progress in providing care for children in state welfare institutions. Lately, the state has recognized challenges faced by foster youth after they “age out” of state care and transit to adulthood. Program experimentations on providing transitional services and support to this group have started to emerge. In 2017, the Guangzhou city, one among the first few cities in China, launched a three-year transitional residential program for aged out young adults, by providing public housing, subsidies and employment preparation and training.

To draw a baseline profile for participants in this Guangzhou program, this study examined the experiences of a group of youth currently enrolled in this transitional program, focusing on their sources of stress, coping mechanisms, behavioral problems, and social support, as well as how these factors are related to emotional wellbeing.

Methods:

This study used survey data collected by Guangzhou Child Welfare Institute. Baseline survey data of foster youth in the residential transitional living program were retrieved. Caseworkers conducted structured face-to-face interviews with 78 youth placed in the residential transitional living program during 2017. Information about their socio-demographic information, sources of stress, coping mechanisms, behavior problems, and social support systems was obtained.  

Results:

Among participants, 58 were female (Mage=23.8 years); all were unmarried; slightly over 10% had some form of disabilities; more than half had an education below 12^th grade. Only one quarter were employed full-time. Only one third reported stable income, while others either had no income or relied mainly on welfare and other subsidies. Nearly three quarters had monthly income below 2,500 Chinese Yuan (about $420 US dollars).

The major sources of stress were self-expectation (50.8%) and economic hardship (42.4%). Regarding stress coping mechanisms, more than half reported that they would retreat, a small number of participants will attack or lose temper, and 25.4% would choose to seek help actively. Regarding behavior problems, 47.5% participants commonly used abusive languages, 40.7% could not control temper, 32.2% reported bad peer influence and 32.2% caused legal and safety concerns. Regarding sources of social support, about 35.9% answered social welfare agencies, 14.1% identified foster families, and 12.8% reported classmates.

Correlation analyses further suggested that psychological and financial stress was positively related to behavior problems such as attacking others, anger control problems, use of abuse languages, having bad peer influences, lack of legal awareness, but negatively related to active help-seeking behaviors.

Discussion and implication:

This study is the first and the most systematic data yet reported upon in the literature that profiles the aging out foster youth in transitional living programs in China. The aging out foster youth in a transitional housing program reported unmet needs that require policy and practice attention. The findings suggest policies and programs should be designed in improving economic security, providing mentoring and counseling services. The study also indicate efforts in building relationship between the youth and communities to develop community support, peer support as well as other informal social support for the emancipated youth.