Youth with experience in the foster system are often more susceptible to negative outcomes in adulthood due to their high levels of cumulative risk. The present study sought out to re-define the concept of “success” from the perspective of emerging adults with experience in the foster care system and to identify patterns among the characteristics and behaviors of foster families that promote success as these young adults transition out of the foster care system and into adulthood. Participants most frequently defined “success” as achieving personal goals. Additionally, Support and Positive Identity were found to be the most influential Developmental Assets® promoted by family characteristics and behaviors. A greater awareness of the family factors emerging adults perceived to contribute to their success can be used to advise agencies, advocates, and parents, permitting them to be more intentional in promoting success and maximizing opportunities for successful development in foster youth.
","abstract_html":"<p>Youth with experience in the foster system are often more susceptible to negative outcomes in adulthood due to their high levels of cumulative risk. The present study sought out to re-define the concept of “success” from the perspective of emerging adults with experience in the foster care system and to identify patterns among the characteristics and behaviors of foster families that promote success as these young adults transition out of the foster care system and into adulthood. Participants most frequently defined “success” as achieving personal goals. Additionally, Support and Positive Identity were found to be the most influential Developmental Assets® promoted by family characteristics and behaviors. A greater awareness of the family factors emerging adults perceived to contribute to their success can be used to advise agencies, advocates, and parents, permitting them to be more intentional in promoting success and maximizing opportunities for successful development in foster youth.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Anderson, Brianna Lynne"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Masters Thesis","degree_discipline":"Child and Family Studies","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Amanda Williams","Claire Kimberly","Pamela Rollins"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015-08-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2015-08-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:45:40Z","subjects":["success","foster care","emerging adulthood","development","Family, Life Course, and Society"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/129","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Amanda Williams","Claire Kimberly","Pamela Rollins"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Anderson, Brianna Lynne"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2015-06-26T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Child and Family Studies"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Masters Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["success","foster care","emerging adulthood","development","Family, Life Course, and Society"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/129"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Youth with experience in the foster system are often more susceptible to negative outcomes in adulthood due to their high levels of cumulative risk. The present study sought out to re-define the concept of “success” from the perspective of emerging adults with experience in the foster care system and to identify patterns among the characteristics and behaviors of foster families that promote success as these young adults transition out of the foster care system and into adulthood. Participants most frequently defined “success” as achieving personal goals. Additionally, Support and Positive Identity were found to be the most influential Developmental Assets® promoted by family characteristics and behaviors. A greater awareness of the family factors emerging adults perceived to contribute to their success can be used to advise agencies, advocates, and parents, permitting them to be more intentional in promoting success and maximizing opportunities for successful development in foster youth.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Defining Success: The Perspective of Emerging Adults with Foster Care Experience"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Amanda Williams","Claire Kimberly","Pamela Rollins"],"dc:creator":["Anderson, Brianna Lynne"],"dc:date.available":["2015-06-26T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Youth with experience in the foster system are often more susceptible to negative outcomes in adulthood due to their high levels of cumulative risk. The present study sought out to re-define the concept of “success” from the perspective of emerging adults with experience in the foster care system and to identify patterns among the characteristics and behaviors of foster families that promote success as these young adults transition out of the foster care system and into adulthood. Participants most frequently defined “success” as achieving personal goals. Additionally, Support and Positive Identity were found to be the most influential Developmental Assets® promoted by family characteristics and behaviors. A greater awareness of the family factors emerging adults perceived to contribute to their success can be used to advise agencies, advocates, and parents, permitting them to be more intentional in promoting success and maximizing opportunities for successful development in foster youth.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/129"],"dc:subject":["success","foster care","emerging adulthood","development","Family, Life Course, and Society"],"dc:title":["Defining Success: The Perspective of Emerging Adults with Foster Care Experience"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Child and Family Studies"],"thesis:degree_level":["Masters Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:45:40Z"}