According to this OpinionWay study carried out for the Apprentis d’Auteuil Foundation, for a majority of young people, the transition from adolescence to adulthood is gradual, but remains a source of difficulties, particularly for young people in the child welfare system.

Is becoming an adult in 2025 harder than before? According to an OpinionWay study conducted for the Apprentis d’Auteuil Foundation(New window)Published on Tuesday, June 24, the transition to adulthood in France is a gradual process, supported by family for the vast majority of 25-34 year olds. However, it can represent a source of stress or anxiety for nearly a third of young people.

This gradual transition to adulthood remains impossible for young people who are under the care of child protection services. Indeed, at 18, ” the abrupt cessation of support by Child Welfare Services (ASE) plunges far too many young people into precarious situations, loneliness, and exclusion ,” denounces the Foundation, which points out that 48% of homeless people aged 18 to 25 are former wards of the ASE.

According to the study, turning 18 is a symbol of “celebration and freedom” for 65% of young people. Conversely, for 34% of them, this birthday is “a leap into the unknown and a source of anxiety ,” particularly due to career choices, integration into society, and new responsibilities that can ” generate real stress ” for younger generations.

At what age does one become an “adult” in France?

The results show that 18-year-olds are far from being truly independent at that age. 92% of the young people surveyed have not finished their studies, 95% are not financially independent, and 79% are not self-sufficient in their daily lives (laundry, cooking, etc.). At 21, 66% have not finished their studies, 68% are not financially independent, and 41% are not self-sufficient. At 25, these figures drop to 23% for those still studying, a third are not yet financially independent (32%), and one in five young people still relies on their family for daily life (19%).

On average, young French people report leaving the family home at 21, getting their first job at 22, becoming financially independent at 22, and managing all their administrative tasks and daily life on their own at 21.

Even when they are adults or independent, young people express ” a need for material or moral support ,” particularly ” in times of hardship ” (financial difficulties, loss of housing, health problems). 71% turn to their parents, 41% to their partner, 27% to a sibling, and 17% to grandparents. Three out of ten young people say they cannot or do not dare to rely on their parents. 8% say they have no one to rely on.

“To deprive these young people of support and guidance is to deprive them of a future!”

“The vast majority of young people are not independent at 18. Nor at 19, 20, or 21. Yet, that’s what’s expected of those leaving the child protection system. Even though they are already vulnerable due to chaotic histories, trauma, and a lack of family support,” denounces Jean-Baptiste de Chatillon, Director General of the Apprentis d’Auteuil Foundation. ” The abrupt cessation of support by Child Welfare Services plunges far too many young people into precarious situations, loneliness, exclusion, and homelessness… Depriving these young people of support and guidance is depriving them of a future! ” He points out that 48% of homeless people aged 18 to 25 are former wards of the state.

According to the Foundation, it is therefore necessary to “fully implement the Taquet Law ,” which ” has provided support for young adults leaving the child welfare system until the age of 21 since 2022.” The objective is to ” guarantee comprehensive, stable, long-term support, similar to what a young person experiences within a family, to enable them to fully find their place in society .”