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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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    3. West, Delphine & Luys, Evelien & Gypen, Laura & Van Holen, Frank & Vanderfaeillie, Johan, 2023. "Behavior problems in foster care, systematic review of associated factors," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
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    5. Tatsiopoulou, Paraskevi & Chatzidimitriou, Christina & Georgaca, Eugenie & Abatzoglou, Grigori, 2020. "A qualitative study of experiences during placement and long-term impact of institutional care: Data from an adult Greek sample," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    6. Gable, Sara & Holliday, Amelia & Zars, Jonathon & Simelus, Sonita & Nickell, Angela & Anderson, Bradd, 2024. "Intergenerational conflict, contact with biological parents, and child functioning in kinship caregiver families," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    7. Vanschoonlandt, Femke & Vanderfaeillie, Johan & Van Holen, Frank & De Maeyer, Skrällan & Robberechts, Marijke, 2013. "Externalizing problems in young foster children: Prevalence rates, predictors and service use," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 716-724.
    8. Sulimani-Aidan, Yafit & Tayri-Schwartz, Talia, 2021. "The role of natural mentoring and sense of belonging in enhancing resilience among youth in care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    9. Lee, Linda J., 2011. "Adult visitation and permanency for children following residential treatment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(7), pages 1288-1297, July.
    10. Hernandez, Katarina & Barbosa-Ducharne, Maria & Soares, Joana, 2023. "What happens to children who don’t behave in residential care? A multi-informant mixed-methods study on discipline strategies," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    11. Verheyden, Camille & Van Holen, Frank & West, Delphine & Vanderfaeillie, Johan, 2022. "Psychosocial well-being of Flemish foster children residing in their foster homes during the COVID-19 lockdown," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    12. Spielfogel, Jill E. & Leathers, Sonya J. & Christian, Errick & McMeel, Lorri S., 2011. "Parent management training, relationships with agency staff, and child mental health: Urban foster parents' perspectives," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 2366-2374.
    13. Lin, Ching-Hsuan, 2018. "The relationships between child well-being, caregiving stress, and social engagement among informal and formal kinship care families," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 203-216.
    14. Leon, Scott C. & Saucedo, Deborah J. & Jachymiak, Kristin, 2016. "Keeping it in the family: The impact of a Family Finding intervention on placement, permanency, and well-being outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 163-170.
    15. 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).
    16. 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).
    17. Taplin, Stephanie & Mattick, Richard P., 2014. "Supervised contact visits: Results from a study of women in drug treatment with children in care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 65-72.
    18. Nesmith, Ande, 2017. "Coping with change: Using the Bridge's Transitions Framework with foster youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 41-47.
    19. Ruiz-Romero, Kevin J. & Salas, María D. & Fernández-Baena, Francisco Javier & González-Pasarín, Lucía, 2022. "Is contact with birth parents beneficial to children in non-kinship foster care? A scoping review of the evidence," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    20. Danner Touati, Camille & Miljkovitch, Raphaële & Elina Sirparanta, Aino & Ahmad, Sam & Toléon, Camille & Deborde, Anne-Sophie, 2023. "Suicidal risk among adult survivors of childhood maltreatment: The role of parent–child contact during out of home placement," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    21. Morrison, Janet & Mishna, Faye & Cook, Charlene & Aitken, Gail, 2011. "Access visits: Perceptions of child protection workers, foster parents and children who are Crown wards," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(9), pages 1476-1482, September.
    22. Paulo Delgado & Isabel M. Bernedo Muñoz & João M. S. Carvalho & María D. Salas Martínez & Miguel Ángel García-Marín, 2019. "Foster Carers’ Perspectives about Contact in Portugal and Spain," International Journal of Social Science Studies, Redfame publishing, vol. 7(6), pages 145-153, November.
    23. Hyunah Kang & Ick-Joong Chung & Sehyeon Oh, 2023. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Developmental Outcomes among Korean Kinship Foster Care Children: Gender Differences," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-18, August.
    24. 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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