Returning to the family after residential care: changes in young people’s well-being and their assessment of the transition

Abstract

There is lack of research on the self-reported subjective well-being of young people returning to their families after residential care. This study examined the self-reported subjective well-being of young people before and after returning to their families (n = 79) and compared it with that of young people who remained in the same residential care facility (n = 255). In addition, the study examined returners’ assessments of their transition to identify transition factors that are associated with an easier return. Data for this study were collected through a panel study that examines the personal lives of young people aged 12 to 17 in residential care in Switzerland. Using data from the 2022 and 2023 survey waves, the study found that returning to the family was the most common form of leaving residential care in this sample, at 49.9%. In addition, a significant increase in returners’ subjective well-being was found upon their return, but it was not significantly different from that of the young people who remained in the same residential care facility. More than 60% of the returners reported that they were coping quite well. However, almost a quarter of the returners reported that they had a rather difficult time after their return. Willingness to leave residential care and good professional support during the initial period after leaving care were found to be significant predictors of a less difficult time upon returning to the family. Yet, only 48.7% of returners reported receiving good professional support after leaving residential care.