Variations in Behaviour Ratings of Children Who Have Been in Care*

Abstract

I^fTRODUCTIONRECENT studies of behaviour ratings of children in care (Yule and Raynes, 1972;Wolkind and Rutter, 1973;Wolkind, 1974) have confirmed earlier findings that these children are reported to show higher rates of maladjusted or "deviant" behaviour than children in the general population (Pringle, 1971; Ferguson, 1966;Lewis, 1954). In the recent studies, it has been suggested that the higher rates of disturbed behaviour may be associated with the family situations from which the children came into care or to which they went home on discharge, rather than with the experience ofbeing in care per se. In each of the studies, the children were already in care before the data were collected so that information relating to the period before reception into care was retrospective.The present study is longitudinal and covers a nationally representative sample. Ratings of the children's behaviour at school and at home were made when the children were aged 7 years and also 11 years. Thus it is possible to examine the reported behaviour of children who were received into care after the age of seven both before and after they were in care and to compare this with the ratings of children who were in care earlier in their childhood. In addition, the study provides foUow-up data on a group of children who were the subjects of an earlier special investigation (Mapstone, 1969). METHODThe National Child Development Study (NCDS) is a longitudinal study being carried out by the National Children's Bureau of approximately 16,000 children in England, Wales and Scotland bom in 1 week of March !958. Educational, social and medical information was collected for these children at 7 years (Davie et al., 1972) and again at 11 years. At both ages, teachers were asked to complete the Bristol Social Adjustment Guide (Stott, 1963, 1%6). On this scale, higher total scores indicate behaviour which is perceived as less socially acceptable by teachers. During the course of an interview wilh the child's parents, health visitors obtained answers to a modified version of the Rutter scale (Rutter et al., 1970). The responses have been combined into a scale on which higher scores indicate that parents have reported more instances of l>ehaviour which is considered to be less conforming [for scoring method, see Essen and Peckham (1976), Appendix].

Annotation: Outcomes in Long‐term Foster Family Care

“…The validity of such an attribution is confirmed by the studies of children followed up in the National Child Development Study and the Child Health and Education Study, where it was possible to compare the outcomes of children who had entered care at different ages with measurements taken both before and after their admission. In both studies it was apparent that emotional and behavioural disturbance, where present, often antedated admission to care (Lambert, Essen, & Head, 1977 ;St Clair & Osborn, 1987), and the same applied to academic delays (Essen, Lambert, & Head, 1976 ;St Clair & Osborn, 1987). There was even some evidence that there was more academic catch-up in young children in care than in children who were not yet in care, but who were '' destined '' to enter care later (Essen et al, 1976 ;St Clair & Osborn, 1987).…”

Families and the Origins of Child Behavior Problems

“…However, research emanating from a number of countries and using different methodologies has indicated that it is the discord and not the separation that has the most visible effect on the child. Stated precisely, children from broken or intact homes characterized by open marital discord are at greater risk to develop a behavioral disorder than children from broken or intact homes that are relatively nondiscordant (17, 21, 25, 31, 35, 37).…”

Malaise Scores in Adulthood of Children and Young People Who Have Been in Care

“…Studies emanating from The National Child Development Study have been at the centre of much of this research (e.g. Using NCDS data, Lambert, Essen, and Head (1977) found that the school behaviour of children who have been in care by the age of 11 was poorer than that of children who have never been in care. Using NCDS data, Lambert, Essen, and Head (1977) found that the school behaviour of children who have been in care by the age of 11 was poorer than that of children who have never been in care.…”