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Praxisforschung_SOS-Längsschnittstudie
Practice Research

SOS Longitudinal Study

What does it mean for young people not to grow up in their own family? What do they experience growing up in an institution, and what, precisely, do they subsequently need to be able to lead a life according to their own conceptions?

German version

Accompany Young People on Their Way to Independent Living

Within the framework of the SOS Longitudinal Study we regularly ask youths and young adults about their growing up in SOS Children’s Villages in Germany. We query their preparation for independent living and their transition into adult life. We also ask about different life spheres, like education and social relationships, health and well-being, burdens and life satisfaction and different aspects of the support they received. The research project also examine the further development of former SOS residents, so-called care leavers, including wishes for their future and important life events. The goal of the SOS Longitudinal Study is

  • to examine individual development processes and transitions over a longer time
  • and to continually improve our pedagogic practice on site in the homes based on this empirical basis.

Empowerment for a Self-determined Life

Becoming independent is a process involving diverse developmental tasks, upheavals and challenges. Aside from everyday practical capabilities, personal resources, like a fundamental feeling of confidence and trust in life and one’s own possibilities are required.

In the SOS Longitudinal Study, we also examine what, exactly, this constitutes and how it can be strengthened among young people during and after home care. The goal of alternative care in the youth welfare system is to enable young persons who must become independent considerably earlier than their peers and generally without familial support to live according to their own agendas.

To make this possible, a comprehensive set of aids and measures that provide both space and time for personality development in an institutional setting, as well as professional and trusting attendance during the sensitive phase of transition from out of home care to adulthood are required.

How many young people have been included in the SOS Longitudinal Study so far (since 2014)?
11170

1144

as care receivers

11170

354

as care receivers and care leavers

11170

1498

all persons

Implementation and Methods of the SOS Longitudinal Study

The SOS Longitudinal Study is a cooperative project between the Sociopedagogical Institute (Sozialpädagogisches Institut/SPI) and the SOS Children’s Village e.V. (registered association) with the Institute for Practical Research and Project Counselling (Institut für Praxisforschung und Projektberatung/IPP). The data collection in the SOS facilities is carried out by the IPP and the survey on issues of leaving care by the SPI. The SOS Longitudinal Study is contracted by the SOS Children’s Village e.V. 

The SOS Longitudinal Study is characterized by its broad field access, multiple perspectives and mixture of methods. 

  • Quantitative questionnaires are regularly filled out by care receivers twelve years and older, by the care givers and care leavers every two years. We apply a wide range of instruments and methods to cover the topics person, relationship and environment and investigated the influences and interactions among these different aspects. 
  • Qualitative interviews, each with a partial sample, are conducted in years between the questionnaires. In these detailed interviews, the young people are encouraged to consciously consider and reflect on their own development and life situation. 

Both quantitative and qualitative methods are applied to evaluate the data, to interrelate the individual results and to consider the research outcomes from different perspectives. Up to now there are hardly any longitudinal studies which combine different methods in the research on children and youth in Germany. The SOS Longitudinal Study contributes to filling this gap in research.

Empirically Founded Findings for Practice and Research

The SOS Longitudinal Study provides results on many topics and life areas, as well as different aspects of support during the development process of becoming independent and the transition from care to adulthood. We emphasize the continual further development of pedagogic practice in the SOS families and youth groups on site and thereby contribute to research on growing up in out of home care and the expert discussions and political consulting.


Selected Results from the SOS Longitudinal Study

1-relationships
Interpersonal relationships provide support

Sustainable relationships give young people the needed support to enable them to master the transition into independent living and to gain a foothold in their adult lives. Nearly 70% of the youths in the SOS Children’s Village families or group homes say that they have a trusting relationship to at least one of our professionel care givers. Siblings are considered the most important persons by the residents, even more important than the mother or parents. The SOS care leavers responded similarly. 

Relationship to care givers: questionnaires answered by youths in SOS care in 2016: n=398
Relationship with siblings: questionnaires answered by youths in SOS care in 2018: n=424 
and by care leavers in 2020: n=203
  


2-At Home
At Home Both Here and There

About 1/3 of the young people in SOS care (31%) feel at home both in the Children’s Village as well as in their own families. This ‟double affiliationˮ makes it easier for them to profit from their time in the SOS facility. Their well-being and life satisfaction are comparatively strongly formed. They regard the supportive system positively. 


Questionnaires filled out by youths in SOS care between 2011 and 2018, initial enquiry: n=906

3-Educational Differences
Educational Differences

SOS care receivers achieved distinctly lower school-leaving certificates compared to same-aged youth without youth-welfare experience. This decreases their chances of occupational success and social participation. 9% of SOS care leavers had no school-leaving certificate, 9% attended a school for children with special needs, 36% received a graduation certificate of secondary education, 34% received a general certificate of secondary education (level 1) and 11% achieved a university-entrance qualification (A Levels). In contrast, 50% of their same-aged peers achieved their A Levels or advanced technical college entrance qualification.


Questionnaires filled out by 251 care leavers in 2015, 2016, and 2018; Educational Report 2020, p. 143

4-Good Networking?
Good Social Networking?

A sustainable social network facilitates the transition into independence if reliable contacts in the Children’s Village break off. This should, therefore, be established during the care period. Approximately half of those questioned experienced trusting relationships to other young people in the Children’s Village family or supervised group home. Around 90% have friends outside of the facility. It is, however, remarkable that these are often only very few persons. The care leavers’ networks are also limited; they usually consist of fewer than ten social relationships.


Questionnaires filled out by youths in SOS care in 2016: n=387; interviews with care leavers in 2017: n=13

5-Prepared for Moving Out
Prepared for Moving Out

For a successful transition, young people need not only practical life competencies and the ability to organise their everyday lives. They also require an internal willingness to move out, mental stability to be able to deal with the situation and reliable and supportive social relationships. Professional attendance before, during and after moving out is also important. This should encompass a wide range of supportive measures and be tailored to the individual’s needs. 58.9% of care leavers reported that they had been well prepared to move out during their stay in the Children’s Village.


Interviews with care leavers in 2016 to 2020: n=17; questionnaires answered by care leavers in 2020, initial enquiry: n=90   

6-Discussing and Participating in Decision-Making
Participating in Decision-Making

Participation is a central operating principle in youth welfare, in the daily pedagogic routine, in the pathway planning procedure and in all preparations and decisions surrounding the transition period. 
21.4 % of the young people cared for in SOS Children’s Villages reported having been asked their opinions during the planning discussions; 76.2% felt included and that they were able to take part in the decision-making. In contrast, 38% of the care leavers reported that they had not or not sufficiently been involved in their passage into self-determination. 


Questionnaires filled out by youths in SOS care in 2016: n=103; questionnaires filled out by care leavers in 2020, initial enquiry: n=93

Any Questions?

If you have questions concerning the SOS Longitudinal Study, please contact:

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Selected Presentations and Papers

Junge Menschen sitzen auf einer Steinbank - Vogelperspektive

Transition to Adulthood

How do care leavers experience their way to independence? Dr. Kristin Teuber and Dr. Yvonne Kaiser, EUSARF Congress Zürich (2021).

Kaiser SOS Meeting Latvia 2022

Quality in Alternative Care

What do young people think? Findings of the SOS Longitudinal Study. Dr. Yvonne Kaiser, SOS Meeting Latvia (2022).

Future Forum on Residential Care 2022

Successful Residential Care

Expertise paper based on the work and results of the federal initiative in Germany „Future Forum on Residential Care” (2022).

Teuber FICE Congress 2019

Findings from a Panel Study

How do care leavers estimate their own transition into adulthood? Karin Schäfer and Dr. Kristin Teuber, FICE Congress Tel Aviv (2019).

Salzburger-Sierwald-Poster-CL-Transition

Leaving Care as a Process

In Care ─ Leaving Care ─ After Care: Results from a Panel Study of SOS Children’s Village. Dr. Veronika Salzburger and Dr. Wolfgang Sierwald.

Teuber EUNA Congress 2018

Relations and Networking

Relations, affiliation and social networking results of the SOS care leaver survey. Dr. Kristin Teuber, EUNA meeting Graz (2018).

Praxisforschung

Forschungsverständnis
SOS-Längsschnittstudie
SOS Longitudinal Study
Verwirklichungschance SOS-Kinderdorf
Forschungsprojekt Schutzinklusiv
SOS-Wohnungslosenstudie