Readiness for Independent Life in Children from Orphan Organizations: Approaches to Assessment and Promotion

Abstract

Low readiness for independent living is what underlies the problems of social adaptation in children and adolescents from orphan organizations. This review explores how scientists and practitioners interpret this very concept of readiness for independent living. It is shown that the external determinants of readiness for independence in orphans are associated with the specifics of their growing up and fall within the research field of social adaptation of orphanage graduates. The paper describes the internal determinants of readiness for independent living as stable sociopsychological features that are essential prerequisites for success in independent living. The sets of allocated characteristics are revealed depending on the key system-forming concept: independence, resilience, life skills, competencies, self-determination. The paper analyzes the influence of the chosen approach on the content of training activities aimed at promoting readiness for independent living and on its assessment. The multidimensional character of the factors related to readiness for independent living requires complex preparation and training. The paper concludes with some suggestions concerning the modernization of such training for adolescents from orphan organizations.

Keywords

• readiness for independent living
• children and adolescents from orphan organizations
• growing up
• independence
• resilience
• life skills
• competence