Emotional Support Cuts Youth Incarceration Risk

MSU research finds strong social support networks, especially emotional support, can help youth in foster care avoid incarceration

Mar. 21, 2026 at 8:15am

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A new study from Michigan State University found that strong social support networks, particularly emotional support, can significantly reduce the likelihood of incarceration among youth transitioning out of the foster care system. The research highlights the importance of efforts by child welfare professionals to strengthen relationships and provide consistent emotional support to youth in foster care to help them achieve more stable and positive outcomes in adulthood.

Why it matters

Youth in foster care often experience family instability, which can disrupt their social relationships and support systems, making the transition to adulthood more challenging. This study underscores the critical role that emotional support plays in helping foster youth navigate this transition and avoid incarceration, which can have lasting negative impacts across their life course.

The details

The study, published in the journal Social Work Research, examined the relationship between different dimensions of social support networks, such as type and size, and incarceration among youth with foster care experience. Specifically, the research found that strong social support networks not only reduced the likelihood of incarceration, but also positively facilitated adjusting to adulthood. Among the different types of social support, emotional support stood out as particularly important, as youth who reported having adequate emotional support were less likely to experience incarceration.

  • The study was recently published in March 2026.

The players

Keunhye Park

An assistant professor at Michigan State University's School of Social Work who conducted the study.

Michigan State University

The university where the research was conducted and published.

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What they’re saying

“Given the developmental tasks of early adulthood (e.g., pursuing postsecondary education, obtaining employment, securing housing), legal system involvement during the transition to adulthood can present additional challenges and may have lasting implications across the life course.”

— Keunhye Park, Assistant Professor, Michigan State University School of Social Work

“Adequate emotional support was significantly associated with decreased odds of incarceration. This research suggests that some forms of social support may be more effective than others in influencing legal system outcomes.”

— Keunhye Park, Assistant Professor, Michigan State University School of Social Work

What’s next

The findings from this study highlight the need for child welfare professionals to focus on strengthening relationships and providing consistent emotional support to youth in foster care, in order to help them avoid incarceration and achieve more stable and positive outcomes in adulthood.

The takeaway

This research underscores the critical importance of emotional support in helping youth in foster care successfully navigate the transition to adulthood. By prioritizing efforts to build strong social support networks, particularly through the provision of emotional support, child welfare professionals can play a key role in reducing the risk of incarceration and promoting positive life outcomes for this vulnerable population.