Stability and change of attachment disorder symptoms and interpersonal problems in foster children

Symanzik, Tabea; Lohaus, Arnold; Job, Ann-Katrin; Chodura, Sabrina; Konrad, Kerstin; Heinrichs, Nina; Reindl, Vanessa

doi:10.1016/j.mhp.2018.12.001

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 36 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Importantly, this study lends empirical support to the idea that attachment styles can change in the context of secure attachment relationships (Bretherton, 1992; Symanzik, et al., 2019). It indicates that confiding is a potential mechanism among this population, which could gradually increase attachment security, safety and trust in the relationship under certain conditions.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

“…In some circumstances, this trust could then transfer to other relationships and help young people to build and deepen wider social support. This is an important finding given that many looked after young people have experienced attachment trauma and disruption in their early lives (Munro, 2001; Symanzik, et al., 2019) and are subsequently more likely to experience relationship difficulties later in life (Bruskas and Tessin, 2013; Deblinger and Runyon, 2005). In addition, social support and attachment security are recognised aspects of resilience (Sippel, et al., 2015); they contribute to establishing an ability to develop trusted and safe confiding relationships that promote resilience among those in care and, critically, in preparation for their transition towards independence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Confiding in others: exploring the experiences of young people who have been in care

Eldridge

John

Gleeson

2020

Adoption & Fostering

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the general population, confiding is typically associated with increased well-being, reduced distress and strengthened relationships. However, there is a lack of research exploring the role of confiding among young people who have been in the care system. The current study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to guide the analysis of semi-structured interviews with eight young people with a range of care experiences, looking at the topic of confiding in others. Five themes emerged from the data analysis that indicated difficulties with confiding related to: holding unacceptable identities that are difficult to reveal to others; holding anticipations and expectations that confiding leads to harm; experiencing internal conflict between wanting to be open versus wanting to remain closed; and varying opportunities to develop trusted, confiding relationships across different environments within the care system. The findings suggest a need for safe, secure and stable care placements that can support the potential development of trusted confiding relationships wherein young people may be able to develop greater attachment security, and the capacity to build safe, supportive and trusted relationships through their lives. Implications for practice are discussed.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Confiding in others: exploring the experiences of young people who have been in care

Eldridge

John

Gleeson

2020

Adoption & Fostering

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The cohorts were not representative population samples, but instead were recruited in relation to their time in care or placements. Three studies recruited samples shortly after they entered care, one study recruited young children who had been in care for 2 years or less (Symanzik et al, 2019), and one study recruited a sample of "difficult to place" children following placement with new foster families (Staines, 2012). Any effects that growing up in OOHC have on children's mental health may not be uniform over time.…”

Section: Acc-mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The second measured a moderate mean improvement ( d = .45) over 18–24 months following entry into care (Stahmer et al, 2009). A third study measured modest 1-year reductions in attachment disorder symptoms and interpersonal difficulties among a sample of 2- to 7-year-old German children in foster care who had been in care for 2 years or less at baseline and entered care following a history of maltreatment (Symanzik et al, 2019). However, neither of the carer-report measures used in this study were designed or validated for children under 4 or 5 years of age, and the study unexpectedly measured comparable 1-year reductions in these symptoms and difficulties among a community sample of same-aged children.…”

Section: Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

A narrative review of stability and change in the mental health of children who grow up in family-based out-of-home care

Tarren‐Sweeney

Goemans

2019

Developmental Child Welfare

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The present review sought to address the following questions: What evidence is there that long-term, family-based out-of-home care (OOHC) has a general, population-wide effect on children’s mental health such that it is generally reparative or generally harmful? Does entry into long-term OOHC affect children’s mental health, as evidenced by prospective changes over the first years in care? And, is the reparative potential of long-term, family-based OOHC moderated by children’s age at entry into care? Fourteen studies were identified for review. We found no consistent evidence that family-based OOHC exerts a general, population-wide effect on the mental health of children in care; or that entry into care has an initial effect on children’s mental health; or that children’s age at entry into care moderates their subsequent mental health trajectories. Instead, several longitudinal studies have found that sizable proportions of children in care manifest meaningful improvement in their mental health over both short- and long-term time frames and that similarly sizable proportions experience meaningful deterioration in their mental health. Rather than asking whether long-term, family-based care is generally reparative or harmful for the development of previously maltreated children, future investigations should instead focus on identifying the systemic and interpersonal characteristics of care that promote and sustain children’s psychological development throughout childhood—and those characteristics that are developmentally harmful (i.e., for which children is the experience of care beneficial, and for which children is it not?). The review concludes with recommendations for the design of improved cohort studies that can address these questions.

show abstract

“…In jurisdictions where children predominantly enter care following severe and persistent maltreatment, a child’s age at entry into care strongly predicts their subsequent mental health issues and younger age at entry is protective [17]. Furthermore, longitudinal studies have identified that youths incur further deterioration in their mental health following placement disruptions (e.g., [18, 19]) or attachment insecurity (e.g., [20]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental disorders into adulthood among adolescents placed in residential care: A prospective 10-year follow-up study

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Stability and change of attachment disorder symptoms and interpersonal problems in foster children

Cited by 8 publications

References 36 publications

Confiding in others: exploring the experiences of young people who have been in care

Confiding in others: exploring the experiences of young people who have been in care

A narrative review of stability and change in the mental health of children who grow up in family-based out-of-home care

Mental disorders into adulthood among adolescents placed in residential care: A prospective 10-year follow-up study

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About