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Individual and interpersonal factors associated with psychosocial functioning among adolescents in foster care: A scoping review

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  • Kothari, Brianne H.
  • Blakeslee, Jennifer
  • Miller, Rebecca

Abstract

Risk reduction and strength enhancement are both necessary strategies to improve outcomes for youth in foster care who have experienced adversity. Decades of research have articulated the negative long-term outcomes of youth in foster care, but less is known about youth-level modifiable protective factors that can be nurtured through intervention to improve well-being. This scoping review was conducted to synthesize the state of the science on proximal, modifiable individual and interpersonal factors that are associated with psychosocial well-being among adolescent youth in foster care. Following rigorous and recommended methods, we systematically searched, selected and synthesized 20 years of peer-reviewed literature focused on 13–19 year olds in foster care. 41 peer-reviewed, quantitative studies met specified inclusion criteria and were included in this review. We charted the data and synthesized our findings in consultation with an advisory group of researchers, practitioners, and youth with lived experience. Overall, the review highlighted key categories of individual factors (individual strengths, psychosocial needs, and developmental skills) and interpersonal factors (relationships with peers/siblings, caregiving adults, and caring adults in the community) that can have protective value and are associated with psychosocial functioning for adolescent youth in foster care. Moreover, when youth have their needs met, increase their skills and develop strengths, it often leads to better outcomes as well as more and/or higher quality relationships with important people in their lives. Similarly, when youth develop and maintain quality relationships, those connections often lead to opportunities to advance their skills, strengths and positive outcomes. The results of this review contribute new insights for research, practice, and policy intended to enhance psychosocial well-being for young people in foster care. Findings also highlight specific individual and interpersonal factors that interventionists might consider as potential targeted mechanisms of change when developing programming for this population. Implications are discussed.

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  • Kothari, Brianne H. & Blakeslee, Jennifer & Miller, Rebecca, 2020. "Individual and interpersonal factors associated with psychosocial functioning among adolescents in foster care: A scoping review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:118:y:2020:i:c:s019074092031269x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105454
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shim-Pelayo, Holly & De Pedro, Kris Tunac, 2018. "The role of school climate in rates of depression and suicidal ideation among school-attending foster youth in California public schools," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 149-155.
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    5. Wojciak, Armeda Stevenson & McWey, Lenore M. & Helfrich, Christine M., 2013. "Sibling relationships and internalizing symptoms of youth in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(7), pages 1071-1077.
    6. Zinn, Andrew, 2017. "Predictors of natural mentoring relationships among former foster youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 564-575.
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    10. Lee, Junghee & Powers, Laurie & Geenen, Sarah & Schmidt, Jessica & Blakeslee, Jennifer & Hwang, Insik, 2018. "Mental health outcomes among youth in foster care with disabilities," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 27-34.
    11. Blakeslee, Jennifer & Kothari, Brianne H. & McBeath, Bowen & Sorenson, Paul & Bank, Lew, 2017. "Network indicators of the social ecology of adolescents in relative and non-relative Foster households," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 173-181.
    12. Greeson, Johanna K.P. & Thompson, Allison E. & Ali, Samira & Wenger, Rebecca Stern, 2015. "It's good to know that you got somebody that's not going anywhere: Attitudes and beliefs of older youth in foster care about child welfare-based natural mentoring," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 140-149.
    13. Van Ryzin, Mark J. & Mills, Donna & Kelban, Steven & Vars, Masiel Rodriquez & Chamberlain, Patricia, 2011. "Using the bridges transition framework for youth in foster care: Measurement development and preliminary outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 2267-2272.
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    15. Okpych, Nathanael J. & Courtney, Mark E., 2018. "The role of avoidant attachment on college persistence and completion among youth in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 106-117.
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    Cited by:

    1. 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).
    2. Chiu, Hsin-Yao & McGuire, Austen B. & Jackson, Yo & Stoolmiller, Mike L. & Rodriguez, Alyssa M., 2023. "Maneuvering through life with positivity: Estimating the effects of foster youth’s appraisal on coping styles," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    3. Blakeslee, Jennifer E. & Kothari, Brianne H. & Miller, Rebecca A., 2023. "Intervention development to improve foster youth mental health by targeting coping self-efficacy and help-seeking," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    4. 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).
    5. 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.

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