ABSTRACT
Life transitions are important stages for identity formation, since people strive to achieve a desired self-identity and demonstrate their value and worth as a person in domains of life that are relevant to their new roles and status (Crocker and Wolfe, 2001). The movements between life stages represent a time of disruption and uncertainty, especially as new social roles and responsibilities are navigated (Wheaton, 1990). For people who face difficult life circumstances, transitions can be salient periods because risk factors associated with other aspects of their situation (e.g. poverty, ill health) often come to the fore as they confront challenges to the self during periods of change (Murphy et al., 1988). The transition from childhood to adulthood is a particularly significant period as it is a formative stage when self-identity is not well established. The risk of poor performance in new social roles heightens individuals’ sense of vulnerability, threatens their self-worth and adversely affects their ability to adjust to adult roles. In this chapter we focus specifically on experiences of transition to adulthood amongst young people who have been fostered or in care 1 during their childhood. These young people typically face the transition to adult roles much earlier than their peers, without the same level of support (Jones, 2002), and are exposed to multiple risk factors associated with life chances, which interact to affect their experiences of assuming new consumer roles and attempting to coalesce a desired adult identity.
