Emerging Adulthood Transitions, Family Networks, and Mental Health Within the Context of Child Maltreatment

Family support can greatly help during emerging adulthood; however, family support networks are often complicated in the context of child maltreatment. The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine key indicators of adulthood, family network support, and the mental health of emerging adults who have experienced childhood maltreatment using the most recent wave of the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing data. Findings document that emerging adults who have experienced maltreatment often achieve indicators of adulthood earlier than peers who have not experienced maltreatment, they do so while facing hardships, and their mental health suffers. The results of this study can be used to inform areas for support, intervention, and policy change.