Young Adulthood for Individuals with Behavioral Disorders: What Does it Hold?

Abstract

This study investigated the adult adjustment of randomly selected students with behavioral disorders one and three years after they exited high school. Eighty-nine students (66% of those selected) were interviewed one year out of high school; 82 were interviewed again three years out of high school. Results for individuals three years out of school are reported in terms of: (a) general status information (e.g., marital status, living arrangements, sources of financial assistance, leisure activities); (b) employment information (e.g., percent employed, classification of jobs, wages, fringe benefits); and (c) “successful” adult adjustment relative to criteria presented in this article. Results are compared by graduation status (graduates vs. dropouts) and by year out of school (1 vs. 3). Results are discussed in relation to their implications for school programming and transition planning.