Parental Background, Social Disadvantage, Public “Care,” and Psychological Problems in Adolescence and Adulthood

Buchanan, Ann; Brinke, Joann Ten; Flouri, Eirini

doi:10.1097/00004583-200011000-00016

Cited by 42 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…[39][40][41] Researchers have found that, along with traumatic foster care experiences, many children were concurrently dealing with the emotional consequences of the maltreatment that had necessitated foster care placement. 12,42 Furthermore, researchers reported that infants and children may experience anywhere from 1 to 15 foster care placements within the first year of entering foster care, creating cumulative and distal life challenges resulting in additional psychological burdens. [43][44][45] Family preservation is an official priority of child protection services in the US and many other countries, yet foster care is a predominant social service used to protect children at risk, and it supersedes alternative social services to preserve and strengthen the family unit.…”

Section: Foster Carementioning

confidence: 99%

“…9,10 The risk of psychopathology for many children entering foster care is often compounded with a subsequent cascade of adversities associated with this social setting. [11][12][13][14] Unlike children of divorced parents, who may lose one parent (the absent parent), children in foster care experience family separations that often entail the loss of their entire immediate and extended family, home, friends, and community. Away from everything familiar, they will most often be placed with people they have never met, a foster care family.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Adverse Childhood Experiences and Psychosocial Well-Being of Women Who Were in Foster Care as Children

Bruskas¹,

Tessin²

2013

TPJ

114

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Background and Objective: Research has shown that many children in foster care later have psychosocial problems as adults; this is often attributed to cumulative adversities and a lack of supportive caregivers. The risk factors associated with foster care, such as maternal separation and multiple placements, often counteract many protective factors that can ameliorate the effects of childhood adversities. This study assessed the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and psychosocial well-being in women who were in foster care as children.Methods: A total of 101 women aged 18-71 years (mean, 36.83 [12.95] years) completed an anonymous online survey based on the 10-item ACE Questionnaire, the Sense of Coherence questionnaire, and the General Health Questionnaire.Results: More than 56% of respondents were identified as experiencing current psychological distress. Sense of coherence scores (mean, 54.26 [15.35]) showed a significant inverse association with both General Health Questionnaire (mean, 14.83 [5.88]) and ACE (mean, 5.68 [2.90]) scores (r = -0.64 and -0.31, respectively) and 97% reported at least 1 ACE, 70% reported ≥ 5 and 33% reported ≥ 8. Linear regressions indicated that ACEs reported to occur before foster care were associated with lower levels of sense of coherence (8%) and higher levels of psychological distress (6%). Physical neglect and living in a dysfunctional household (parental loss, maternal abuse, or household member associated with substance abuse or prison) significantly decreased during foster care by 16 and 19 percentage points, respectively. Rates of emotional and physical abuse did not change.Conclusion: The number of ACEs was associated with the level of psychological distress. Our findings suggest that children entering the foster care system are already vulnerable and at risk of experiencing ACEs during foster care and psychological distress during adulthood. Measures implemented to protect children must not cause more harm than good. Social services that preserve and strengthen the family unit and reduce the number of ACEs both before and during foster care are recommended. Social workers and clinicians who are trained to address and manage the unique developmental needs of children in foster care may help reduce the effects of ACEs and optimize developmental health.

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Section: Foster Carementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Psychosocial Well-Being of Women Who Were in Foster Care as Children

Bruskas¹,

Tessin²

2013

TPJ

114

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“…2 The changing structure of families that has resulted in a fifth of children living with one parent has precipitated concerns for the health and wellbeing of children living in these nontraditional households. 3 Studies from various countries report increased rates of emotional and behavioural problems particularly among boys in lone parent families, [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] increased risk of all cause mortality among boys and suicide and psychiatric morbidity among boys and girls, 18 increased rates of accidents, 19 20 and consultations for infections. 20 However, the conclusions of many of these studies are weakened by inadequate adjustment for confounding by socioeconomic status.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Does material disadvantage explain the increased risk of adverse health, educational, and behavioural outcomes among children in lone parent households in Britain? A cross sectional study

Spencer

2005

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health

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Objective: To test the hypothesis that material disadvantage explains the increased risk among children and young people of adverse health, educational, and behavioural problems associated with living in lone parent households in Britain Study design: Secondary analysis of a cross sectional survey of a representative sample of British households with children and youth Main outcomes: Parent reported fair/poor health, longstanding illness and disability, statement of special educational needs, suspension and/or expulsion from school, and in trouble with the police. Participants: Data were available on 15 636 (8049 boys and 7587 girls) aged 0-18 years in 8541 households in the third sweep (2001) of the British government's families and children study Results: Lone parenthood was associated with increased risk of health and educational problems, and antisocial behaviour among boys and girls in a logistic regression model adjusting for child's age alone. Adding age of main carer, number of dependent children, and child's rank in the household made little difference to the associations. Addition of housing tenure, household hardship index, and an interaction term for lone parenthood and hardship eliminated the relation with lone parenthood for all outcomes except parent reported health among girls. Similar results were obtained for households headed by lone parents for at least a year. An interaction effect of lone parenthood with hardship for parent reported health and statement of special educational needs was noted. Conclusion: Adverse effects of lone parenthood on health, education, and antisocial behaviour were apparently explained by material disadvantage in this cross sectional sample of British households with children and youth. L one parent families now represent around 22% of British families and 20% of British children.

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“…); and (iii) frequently precarious and under-supported circumstances on discharge from care. Life in care may yield a legacy of risk for adversity, as illustrated in the work of Buchanan et al (2000). Using data from the National Child Development Study in Britain, they tracked the progress of a cohort of young people who had ever been in care at 16 and 33 years.…”

Section: Life In Public Care As a Special Form Of Adversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Adversity, resilience and the educational progress of young people in public care

Gilligan

2007

Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties

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While serious adversity is often associated with educational under-performance or failure, this is not necessarily always the case. There is evidence that in certain circumstances vulnerable people may display resilience thanks to academic or social achievement in the domain of education. Young people in care have typically endured significant adversity in their lives, leading to the decision to admit them to care, and perhaps also during their time in care. This cumulative adversity may affect their educational attainment. Yet at least some young people in care make good educational progress. Doing well in care seems linked to doing well in education. It is argued that those concerned with the progress of young people in care need to recognize the importance of their education, and what may support or impede their educational progress.

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Parental Background, Social Disadvantage, Public “Care,” and Psychological Problems in Adolescence and Adulthood

Cited by 42 publications

References 20 publications

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Psychosocial Well-Being of Women Who Were in Foster Care as Children

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Psychosocial Well-Being of Women Who Were in Foster Care as Children

Does material disadvantage explain the increased risk of adverse health, educational, and behavioural outcomes among children in lone parent households in Britain? A cross sectional study

Adversity, resilience and the educational progress of young people in public care

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