Transitioning OSC Mental Health Profiles: A Two-Year Longitudinal Study of Aftercare and Alumni from Udayan Care

The transition to independence after reaching adulthood is an emotionally and physically taxing process, especially for institutionalized orphaned and separated children (OSC). However, research assessing the impact of the transition to adulthood on OSC young adults is limited. The purpose of this study is to provide baseline information on a set of key mental health constructs in a population of OSC young adults transitioning into independent living. Alumni (N=9) and current members of the Udayan Care's Residential Aftercare program (N=16) were recruited by the organization in 2015 as well as 2016 and interviewed for mental health measures on: depression, anxiety, social adjustment, and satisfaction with life. Data was also further analyzed to examine the relationships between the mental health constructs. On average, in both 2015 and 2016, the group exhibited depressive symptoms, significant social adjustment difficulties, relatively low anxiety and a general satisfaction with life. Additionally, there were significant relationships between depression, social adjustment and anxiety (p< 0.05). Correlations between these measures indicate that individuals who showed signs of depression were also more likely to exhibit social adjustment problems, as well as relatively higher anxiety symptoms. The results highlight the potential mental health strengths and risks within the Udayan OSC alumni/aftercare population. The connection between the measures also identifies a subgroup that could benefit from comprehensive interventions for addressing their multi-dimensional needs. Further research continuing this longitudinal study and investigating the relationships between mental health constructs could elucidate important trends and best ways of providing support for the transitioning OSC populations.