IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v118y2020ics0190740920304564.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Foster children’s cognitive functioning: A follow-up comparison study at 8 years of age

Author

Listed:
  • Jacobsen, Heidi
  • Wentzel-Larsen, Tore
  • Bergsund, Hans Bugge

Abstract

Foster children are at risk for developmental challenges in several domains, such as cognitive functioning. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate cognitive functioning at age 8 years among 39 foster children (FC) compared to 36 children in a non-foster comparison group (NFC). Furthermore, to investigate possible predictors of early functioning on FC’s functioning at age 8 years, in addition to possible different developmental trajectories within and between the two groups. Results revealed that FC performed below the mean on all WISC-IV index scores as well as Full Scale Intelligent Quotient and General Ability Index, and their performances were significantly below those of the NFC. Although most Mullen scores at 2 and 3 years of age predicted functioning at age 8 years, receptive language at age 3 and Mullen Early Learning Composite at 2 as well as 3 years of age best predicted functioning at age 8 years. Finally, the foster children showed a small catch-up in cognitive functioning over the 6-years-period. The results add to previous research on foster children’s struggle with cognitive functioning and the longitudinal design highlights the need of early intervention to optimize foster children’s functioning in the long run.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacobsen, Heidi & Wentzel-Larsen, Tore & Bergsund, Hans Bugge, 2020. "Foster children’s cognitive functioning: A follow-up comparison study at 8 years of age," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:118:y:2020:i:c:s0190740920304564
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105342
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740920304564
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105342?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jacobsen, Heidi & Bergsund, Hans Bugge & Wentzel-Larsen, Tore & Smith, Lars & Moe, Vibeke, 2020. "Foster children are at risk for developing problems in social-emotional functioning: A follow-up study at 8 years of age," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    2. Stine Lehmann & Nanna S. Kayed, 2018. "Children placed in alternate care in Norway: A review of mental health needs and current official measures to meet them," International Journal of Social Welfare, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(4), pages 364-371, October.
    3. Bruhn, Christina M. & Duval, Denise & Louderman, Richard, 2008. "Centralized assessment of early developmental delays in children in foster care: A program that works," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(5), pages 536-545, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Negård, Inger-Lise & Skjær Ulvik, Oddbjørg & Oterholm, Inger, 2020. "You and me and all of us: The significance of belonging in a continual community of children in long-term care in Norway," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    2. Kelly, Cara & Thornton, Anthony & Anthony, Elizabeth K. & Krysik, Judy, 2021. "“Love. Stability. Boundaries.” Kinship perspectives of social-emotional well-being of youth residing in out-of-home care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    3. McCrae, Julie S. & Cahalane, Helen & Fusco, Rachel A., 2011. "Directions for developmental screening in child welfare based on the ages and stages questionnaires," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(8), pages 1412-1418, August.
    4. Jacobsen, Heidi & Bergsund, Hans Bugge & Wentzel-Larsen, Tore & Smith, Lars & Moe, Vibeke, 2020. "Foster children are at risk for developing problems in social-emotional functioning: A follow-up study at 8 years of age," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    5. Canha, Lúcia & Owens, Laura & Simões, Celeste & Rodrigues, Ricardo & João Gonçalves, Maria, 2024. "Youth with disabilities in residential care in the community: Perceptions and experiences in the transition period," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    6. Furuhaug, Rebekka Andersen & Markussen, Vivian Elise Jaeger & Hysing, Mari & Nilsen, Sondre Aasen & Heradstveit, Ove & Askeland, Kristin Gärtner, 2024. "Mental health, negative life events and resilience among adolescents in contact with the child welfare services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    7. McLaren, Helen & Patmisari, Emi & Jones, Michelle, 2024. "Professional quality of life of Australian Mockingbird FamilyTM foster carers: Compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    8. Tordön, Rikard & Bladh, Marie & Svedin, Carl Göran & Sydsjö, Gunilla, 2020. "Challenging intellectual, behavioral and educational prerequisites for interventions aimed at school aged children in foster care. A compilation of Swedish test results," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    9. Shannon, Patrick & Tappan, Christine, 2011. "A qualitative analysis of child protective services practice with children with developmental disabilities," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(9), pages 1469-1475, September.
    10. Jill R. McTavish & Christine McKee & Masako Tanaka & Harriet L. MacMillan, 2022. "Child Welfare Reform: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-24, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:118:y:2020:i:c:s0190740920304564. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.