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The impact of continued contact with biological parents upon the mental health of children in foster care

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  • McWey, Lenore M.
  • Acock, Alan
  • Porter, Breanne E.

Abstract

This study examined depression and externalizing problems of children in foster care using a subsample of data (n = 362) from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being. Our findings indicated that more frequent contact with the biological mother was marginally associated with lower levels depression and significantly associated with lower externalizing problem behaviors. The association with externalizing problem behavior was significant even after controlling for gender and exposure to violence. Further, differences with regard to gender were revealed. Specifically, girls had higher depression scores than boys even after controlling for exposure to violence. Results suggest that supporting frequent, consistent, visitation may impact the levels of depression and externalizing programs children in foster care exhibit.

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  • McWey, Lenore M. & Acock, Alan & Porter, Breanne E., 2010. "The impact of continued contact with biological parents upon the mental health of children in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(10), pages 1338-1345, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:32:y:2010:i:10:p:1338-1345
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    21. Shalem, Netanel & Attar-Schwartz, Shalhevet, 2022. "Good enough residential care setting: Child-parent contact and youth adjustment in the context of staff attitudes towards parent involvement," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    22. González-Pasarín, Lucía & Bernedo, Isabel M. & García-Martín, Miguel A., 2023. "A qualitative study about changes that parents experience through a pilot parenting support program to improve the quality of contact visits in non-kinship foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
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    25. Furlong, Mairead & McLoughlin, Fergal & McGilloway, Sinead, 2021. "The incredible years parenting program for foster carers and biological parents of children in foster care: A mixed methods study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).

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