A Phenomenological Study on the Social Participation Experiences of Young Adults Preparing for Self-Reliance: Focusing on the Process and Meaning of Self-Reliance

Abstract

This study aims to explore the social participation experiences of young adults preparing for self-reliance and to examine their meanings using a phenomenological approach. Focusing on the process of independence after leaving care, this study investigates how these individuals experience social participation in their daily lives and social relationships, as well as the subjective meanings they construct from these experiences. To achieve this, in-depth interviews were conducted with five young adults in their twenties preparing for self-reliance, and the data were analyzed using Giorgi’s (1985) phenomenological method. The analysis identified 25 central meanings and 11 thematic categories, which were further integrated into four essential themes: “unprepared independence and life transition,” “disconnection of relationships and difficulties in forming new relationships,” “survival-oriented independence and structural constraints,” and “reconstruction of self-awareness and life meaning through social participation.” The findings indicate that social participation among young adults preparing for self-reliance is a process that integrates survival, adaptation, relationship formation, and changes in self-awareness. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of their social participation from the perspective of lived experiences and suggests the need for relational and experience-based approaches in future policies and practices.