Predictors of mental health during young people's transition from out-of-home care in Austria

Background

Care leavers are often disadvantaged in terms of their mental health compared to the general population. The factors influencing care leavers' mental health in the third decade of their lives have so far not been studied systematically.

Objective

Based on a resource model, external contextual factors before, during and after out-of-home care are examined with regard to their positive or negative effects on mental health.

Participants and setting

The sample consists of 121 care leavers, born between 1987 and 1997 and aged between 20 and 29 at the time of the paper-and-pencil survey. The participants had been in out-of-home care for at least two years and left care at the age of 16 or later.

Methods

Multiple hierarchical regression analysis with pairwise deletion and bootstrapping was used to identify predictors of mental health. The final model explains 27 % of the variance in the dependent variable “mental health” and is significant.

Results

Emotional abuse by parents (β = −0.187; p = 0.027) before out-of-home care is negatively associated, but a longer length of stay (β = 0.202; p = 0.023) and support from friends (β = 0.227; p = 0.015) during out-of-home care, as well as an independent economic status (β = 0.326; p < 0.001) and a romantic relationship (β = 0.160; p = 0.044) after the transition show positive correlations with mental health.

Conclusions

The results point to the need for support in building social relationships and sufficient psychosocial support during and after out-of-home care.