The transition to adulthood for vulnerable youth

Abstract

This article examines the transition to four domains of adulthood life among vulnerable young people. About five hundred adolescents who received special support in upper secondary education were followed through school and into adult life. Transitions studied in this article include moving out of the parents' home, finding work, establishing a romantic relationship, and having children. In the first half of their twenties, a quarter of the women and one tenth of the men have children. Nearly half of these young people have no full time job. One-fifth has never lived outside the parental home or never had any romantic relationship. This adaptation to adult life may be understood within a life course perspective which connects past events and conditions with present situation. This is a beneficial approach when analysing how individuals adapt to historical contexts, local environments and structural arrangements, e.g. specially adapted teaching for vulnerable youth.

Keywords:

• adult life
• transition
• life course
• special educational needs