Stronger Together: Coping and Connection Among Youth Leaving Foster Care

Germo, G. R., Shane, J., & Farruggia, S. P. (2025). Transitioning out of foster care: The co-development of adolescents’ coping, depressive symptoms, and intrapersonal and interpersonal resources. Children and Youth Services Review. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108402

Introduction
Adolescents aging out of foster care face disproportionate risks for mental health challenges, instability, and social disconnection. Drawing on Taylor and Stanton’s (2007) lifespan model of coping, Germo and colleagues (2025) examined how coping strategies, depressive symptoms, and both interpersonal and intrapersonal resources co-develop over time among those transitioning out of foster care.

Methods
The researchers conducted a three-year longitudinal study of 188 adolescents (Mean age = 17.4) in Los Angeles County foster care. Using validated scales, they assessed depressive symptoms, three types of coping (approach, avoidant, and support-seeking), self-esteem, optimism, perceived control, and relationship quality with mentors, peers, siblings, and biological parents. Data were analyzed using parallel process latent growth curve modeling to examine concurrent associations and co-development over time.

Results
Support-seeking coping decreased over time, despite being consistently associated with higher-quality relationships and stronger personal resources. While approach and avoidant coping remained stable, optimism and self-esteem increased. Youth with improving peer, mentor, and sibling relationships showed more support-seeking and approach coping. In contrast, increased depressive symptoms were linked to avoidant coping and diminished relational and personal resources.

Discussion
The findings reveal resilience as a key theme. Although many adolescents developed stronger personal assets like optimism, declines in support-seeking suggest a decay in perceived or accessible help. These trends may reflect stigmatized views of independence or unstable relationships that limit youths’ ability to rely on others. Informal mentors emerged as pivotal in fostering self-esteem, optimism, and adaptive coping, highlighting the value of consistent emotional bonds.

Implications for Mentoring Programs
Mentoring programs should aim to target emotional closeness and trust-building, especially with peers and non-parental adults.  Addressing stigma around mental health and support-seeking while building stable, caring adult relationships can significantly boost resilience during the transition out of care.

Read the full paper here