Youth in out-of-home care: Relation of engagement in structured group activities with social and mental health measures

• Only 40% of youth in care were involved in structured activities.
• Participation was lowest for racial/ethnic minorities and males.
• Youth not engaged in activities were more likely to have poor social skills.
• Youth involved in activities were less lonely and less likely to abuse drugs.

Prior research suggests that for youth in the general population, involvement in activities improves academic, health and social outcomes, but the impact of these activities on youth in out-of-home care is unknown. This study examines, among youth in foster, formal kinship, and residential care, associations between involvement in structured and unstructured activities and social and mental health measures. Among 134 youth in out-of-home care, only 40% were involved in structured activities, and racial/ethnic minorities and males were even less likely to participate (p ≤ 0.01). More youth reported involvement in general physical activity (76%), which was associated with higher social skills when compared to those not involved in such unstructured activity (b = − 10.4; 95% C.I. = − 18.22, − 2.65, p = 0.09). Youth not involved in structured activities showed poorer performance on measures of loneliness (b = 5.6; 95% C.I. = 1.63, 9.47, p = .006), drug abuse (b = 0.95; 95% C.I. = 0.31, 1.59, p = .004), and depression (b = 3.5; 95% C.I. = .25, 6.76, p = 0.04). Participation in activities, particularly when structured, may help these vulnerable youth to achieve better social relationships and mental health.