What Happens in the Foster Family? A Study of Fostering Relationships in Sweden

Höjer, Ingrid

doi:10.1177/030857590402800106

Cited by 14 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 8 publications

(6 reference statements)

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Section: Foster Family Experiences Of Fosteringmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Only one study has specifically explored parent-child relationships, but this provided limited theoretical development and included the views of foster carers from couples who had stayed together only (Hojer, 2004). Despite the biased sampling methods used, Hojer (2004) utilised appropriate data collection methods to gain quantitative data as well as exploring the deeper meaning behind this with in-depth qualitative interviews. Unfortunately she did not describe her methods of data analysis, but as the only study that focused entirely on relationships within the foster family, Hojer's (2004) research was valuable to the limited literature base.…”

Section: Foster Family Experiences Of Fosteringmentioning

confidence: 99%

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‘Am I damaging my own family?’: Relational changes between foster carers and their birth children

Thompson¹,

McPherson

Marsland

2014

Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry

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Foster placements are more likely to break down where the foster carers already have birth children. Studies that explore the impact of fostering on foster carers and their birth children have suggested that relational changes occur, but these changes have not been examined in depth. This study aimed to explore the impact of fostering on parent-child relationships within foster families. Nine foster carers (including three couples) were interviewed separately, and the data were analysed using constructivist grounded theory methods. Analysis indicated that birth children may attribute particular importance to their position in the family (e.g. oldest child, youngest child) and that this is a key element of the way in which they relate to their parents. Emotional security and parent-child relationships can therefore be strained by a foster placement not taking this into account. Foster children also introduce significant competition for parental resources, putting a strain on relationships. Foster carers seem to prioritise, consciously or not, the preservation of relationships within the biological family. Reflecting on relationships and making changes to maximise potential improvements in relationships can lead to positive outcomes, and this can have an impact on whether families continue fostering or not.

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Section: Foster Family Experiences Of Fosteringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Foster Family Experiences Of Fosteringmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Am I damaging my own family?’: Relational changes between foster carers and their birth children

Thompson¹,

McPherson

Marsland

2014

Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Buy / Rent full text

show abstract

“…This may be a relevant factor in whether or not male foster carers take an active role in parenting; it is arguable that, with adults outnumbered by children, men in foster families simply do not have the option of just 'sitting on the sidelines'. Although she does not make an explicit link to the number of children in a fostering household, Hojer (2004) asserts that fostering 'draws males to the centre of family life' (p. 42).…”

Section: P R O F I L E O F R E S P O N D E N T Smentioning

confidence: 99%

Foster fathers: their experiences and contributions to fostering

Wilson¹,

Fyson

Newstone

2007

Child Fam Soc Work

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The paper reports some of the findings of an exploratory study which looks at foster fathers' experiences of fostering and discusses their routes into foster care and their perspectives on their roles and tasks. The study collected quantitative and qualitative data by approaching all foster fathers registered with a single independent fostering agency based in southeast England. They were asked about their personal and

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“…Earlier research has provided knowledge of how foster carers themselves perceive the impact of fostering on their everyday life (Kälvesten 1974;Vinterhed At the Department of Social Work, University of Gothenburg, two recent studies, The Inner Life of the Foster Family (1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001) and Growing Up with Foster Siblings (2001-05), focus on the members of the foster family and the impact fostering has on their lives (Höjer 2001(Höjer , 2003(Höjer , 2004Höjer & Nordenfors 2004). This paper draws on results from the latter study, where sons and daughters of foster carers were asked about their experiences of fostering.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sons and daughters of foster carers and the impact of fostering on their everyday life

Höjer¹

2007

Child Fam Soc Work

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The paper presents results from a study of sons and daughters of foster carers, and the impact of fostering on their lives. Children and young people participated in focus groups and discussion groups, and 684 answered a questionnaire. Eight were interviewed in‐depth. The results from the study showed that sons and daughters of foster carers were highly involved in the fostering assignment. Most children and young people valued their relationship with foster children, but even though relations to foster children were good, fostering could imply complicated changes of everyday life. Sons and daughters of foster carers may have to cope with conflicts connected to behavioural disorders of foster children, and they gained knowledge about foster children’s problematic lives. Fostering also implied contact with natural parents of foster children. Such contact could challenge children’s and young people’s’ perception of adequate parenthood. For some respondents it was hard to become aware of the dysfunctional parenting, abuse and/or neglect to which foster children might have been exposed. The results of the study provided evidence of the need to acknowledge the contribution to fostering made by sons and daughters of foster carers, and also to recognize the impact fostering may have on their lives.

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What Happens in the Foster Family? A Study of Fostering Relationships in Sweden

Cited by 14 publications

References 8 publications

‘Am I damaging my own family?’: Relational changes between foster carers and their birth children

‘Am I damaging my own family?’: Relational changes between foster carers and their birth children

Foster fathers: their experiences and contributions to fostering

Sons and daughters of foster carers and the impact of fostering on their everyday life

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