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The contribution of resilience to one-year independent living outcomes of care-leavers in South Africa

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  • van Breda, Adrian D.
  • Dickens, Lisa

Abstract

The journey out of residential care towards independent living in South Africa is significantly under-researched. This article draws on data from the only longitudinal study on care-leaving in South Africa. It uses resilience theory to explain the differences observed in independent living outcomes of care-leavers, one year after leaving the residential care of Girls and Boys Town. A sample of 52 young people completed the Youth Ecological Resilience Scale just before disengaging from care between 2012 and 2015 and participated in a follow-up interview one year later, focused on assessing a range of independent living outcomes. Nonparametric bivariate analyses were used to determine which resilience variables predicted better outcomes for the care-leavers. The results reveal that resilience processes help to understand transitional outcomes related to housing, education, employment, well-being and relationships with family and friends. The most prominent resilience processes for promoting better outcomes are located in the person-in-environment domains of the social environment (community safety, family financial security and social activities) and social relationships (with family, friends and community), with fewer in the interactional (teamwork) and personal (optimism) domains, and, surprisingly, none in the in-care service domain. This supports a social-ecological view of resilience, and has important implications for child and youth care practice.

Suggested Citation

  • van Breda, Adrian D. & Dickens, Lisa, 2017. "The contribution of resilience to one-year independent living outcomes of care-leavers in South Africa," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 264-273.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:83:y:2017:i:c:p:264-273
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.11.009
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mmusi, Fatima Ipeleng & van Breda, Adrian D., 2017. "Male care-leavers' transfer of social skills from care into independent living in South Africa," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 350-357.
    2. Stein, Mike, 2006. "Young people aging out of care: The poverty of theory," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 422-434, April.
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    1. Atwool, Nicola, 2020. "Transition from care: Are we continuing to set care leavers up to fail in New Zealand?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    2. Refaeli, Tehila & Benbenishty, Rami & Zeira, Anat, 2019. "Predictors of life satisfaction among care leavers: A mixed-method longitudinal study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 146-155.
    3. Frimpong-Manso, Kwabena, 2018. "Building and utilising resilience: The challenges and coping mechanisms of care leavers in Ghana," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 52-59.
    4. Power, Luke & Hardy, Mark, 2024. "Predictors of care leavers’ health outcomes: A scoping review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    5. van Breda, Adrian D. & Theron, Linda C., 2018. "A critical review of South African child and youth resilience studies, 2009–2017," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 237-247.
    6. Itzhaki-Braun, Yael & Sulimani-Aidan, Yafit, 2022. "Determination of life satisfaction among young women care leavers from the Ultraorthodox Jewish community," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).

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