title: Economic disadvantage and transitional outcomes: a study of young people from low-income families in Hong Kong.
abstract: This study draws on data from focus groups involving 50 young people from low-income families in Hong Kong to investigate their school-to-work experiences. In line with the ecological-developmental perspective, our results show that contextual influences, including lower levels of parental involvement and lack of opportunities for further education or skill development, constrain both the formulation and pursuit of educational and career goals. In contrast, service use and supportive interactions with parents and non-family adults were found to help young people find a career direction and foster more adaptive transition. Furthermore, our results indicate a striking difference in intrapersonal agency and coping styles between youths who were attending further education or engaged in jobs with career advancement opportunities and those who were not. We discuss the implications of our findings, both for future research and for policy development to enhance the school-to-work transition of economically disadvantaged young people.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Steven Sek Yum
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ngai
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Social Studies, City University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Jacky Chau-Kiu
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Siu-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: To
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luan
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Ruiling
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhao
keywords: Hong Kong; extra-familial resources; low-income families; resilience; school-to-work transition; youth