Diverse Pathways and the Role of Timing: Youth Experiences of Leaving Care in China

ABSTRACT In China, young people in state‐funded childcare institutions ( Fuliyuan ) are required to exit at age 18 unless still in education, compressing the move to adulthood. This study applies a life‐course lens to examine how the timing and sequencing of key life events shape care leavers' trajectories. We conducted qualitative, semi‐structured interviews with 22 care leavers and analysed the data thematically. The findings indicate three pathways: (i) school‐leaver, marked by exits at or around 18 aligned with finishing school and rapid entry to the workplace; (ii) family‐builder, characterized by extended/gradual exits beyond 18, with marriage commonly signalling departure; and (iii) unpredictable, where participants experienced disordered, nonlinear life trajectories associated with cumulative disadvantages. Across pathways, outcomes reflected structural conditions, including limited preparation for independence and sparse aftercare. Findings contribute a China‐specific perspective to international leaving‐care research and underscore the need for flexible, individualized policies that assess readiness rather than rely solely on age thresholds. We also highlight the potential benefits of extended care, provided it is paired with continued support and opportunities to build agency, and call for early interventions to prevent disrupted exits from school and other key institutions.