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Instability in the lives of foster and nonfoster youth: Mental health impediments and attachment insecurities

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  • Bederian-Gardner, Daniel
  • Hobbs, Sue D.
  • Ogle, Christin M.
  • Goodman, Gail S.
  • Cordón, Ingrid M.
  • Bakanosky, Sarah
  • Narr, Rachel
  • Chae, Yoojin
  • Chong, Jia Y.

Abstract

Foster youth are at risk for negative mental health and psychosocial outcomes, including when they are on the brink of emancipation from care into self-sustained adulthood. Factors believed to affect outcomes among foster youth include residential and school instability. Although frequent moves to new homes and schools are common for youth living in poverty, instability for foster youth involves not only changing homes and schools but often also changes in caregivers, thus putting foster youth at risk for disrupted attachment relationships. For the current study, structural equation models examined links between instability, mental health problems, and attachment insecurities in foster and at-risk nonfoster youth. A model containing instability provided a better fit to the data than a model containing foster care status only. Group comparisons revealed that instability was associated with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms for foster but not nonfoster youth. Implications of instability in the lives of foster youth are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Bederian-Gardner, Daniel & Hobbs, Sue D. & Ogle, Christin M. & Goodman, Gail S. & Cordón, Ingrid M. & Bakanosky, Sarah & Narr, Rachel & Chae, Yoojin & Chong, Jia Y., 2018. "Instability in the lives of foster and nonfoster youth: Mental health impediments and attachment insecurities," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 159-167.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:84:y:2018:i:c:p:159-167
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.10.019
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lawler, Michael J. & Sayfan, Liat & Goodman, Gail S. & Narr, Rachel & Cordon, Ingrid M., 2014. "Comprehensive residential education: A promising model for emerging adults in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 10-19.
    2. Havlicek, Judy R. & Garcia, Antonio R. & Smith, Douglas C., 2013. "Mental health and substance use disorders among foster youth transitioning to adulthood: Past research and future directions," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 194-203.
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    4. Unrau, Yvonne A. & Seita, John R. & Putney, Kristin S., 2008. "Former foster youth remember multiple placement moves: A journey of loss and hope," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(11), pages 1256-1266, November.
    5. Keller, Thomas E. & Salazar, Amy M. & Courtney, Mark E., 2010. "Prevalence and timing of diagnosable mental health, alcohol, and substance use problems among older adolescents in the child welfare system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 626-634, April.
    6. Barber, James & Delfabbro, Paul, 2005. "Children's adjustment to long-term foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(3), pages 329-340, March.
    7. Chambers, Ruth M. & Crutchfield, Rashida M. & Willis, Tasha Y. & Cuza, Haydée A. & Otero, Angelica & Carmichael, Heather, 2017. "Perspectives: Former foster youth refining the definition of placement moves," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 392-397.
    8. Ledyard Tucker & Charles Lewis, 1973. "A reliability coefficient for maximum likelihood factor analysis," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 38(1), pages 1-10, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Abdullah, Alhassan & Cudjoe, Ebenezer & Manful, Esmeranda, 2018. "Barriers to childcare in Children's Homes in Ghana: Caregivers' solutions," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 450-456.
    2. Lee, Jane Jiyoun, 2024. "Cross-informant agreement between caregivers and teachers for prosocial behavior across child welfare settings," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    3. 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).
    4. Elise Barboza, Gia & Valentine, Romello, 2022. "A network analysis of post-traumatic stress among youth aging out of the foster care system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).

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