IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v86y2018icp200-208.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Foster parents' emotional investment and their young foster children's socio-emotional functioning

Author

Listed:
  • Jacobsen, Heidi
  • Brabrand, Hilde
  • Liland, Solveig M.M.
  • Wentzel-Larsen, Tore
  • Moe, Vibeke

Abstract

Emotional investment may be defined as a willingness to accept and become committed to a child, and being aware of influencing the child's development. Research in this field is limited, and has shown that commitment in particular is associated with foster children's socio-emotional functioning. Our aim was therefore to investigate 60 foster parents' acceptance, commitment and awareness of influence to their early placed foster children at 2 years, as well as to investigate the association between these three concepts and the foster children's social-emotional functioning (externalizing, internalizing, dysregulation and competence) at 2 (T1) and 3 (T2) years of age. The caregivers were interviewed with “This is My Baby”, and completed the questionnaire “Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment”. Results showed that on average the foster parents were rated quite high on emotional investment. Linear regressions, including one predictor and one outcome variable, revealed associations between emotional investment and foster children's socio-emotional functioning. Moreover, in regressions including all three predictors, commitment significantly negatively predicted externalizing behavior in the foster children at T1, while acceptance significantly negatively predicted dysregulation at T2. Lastly, among others for externalizing, the coefficient of commitment was significantly higher at T1 than at T2. Our results indicate a possible short-term influence of commitment on externalizing- and a possible long-term influence of acceptance on dysregulation behavior in foster children. We will therefore highlight the clinical importance of emotional investment in foster care, in order to help the young foster child towards a healthy social-emotional functioning.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacobsen, Heidi & Brabrand, Hilde & Liland, Solveig M.M. & Wentzel-Larsen, Tore & Moe, Vibeke, 2018. "Foster parents' emotional investment and their young foster children's socio-emotional functioning," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 200-208.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:86:y:2018:i:c:p:200-208
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.01.020
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019074091730899X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.01.020?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. Keil, Vivien & Price, Joseph M., 2006. "Externalizing behavior disorders in child welfare settings: Definition, prevalence, and implications for assessment and treatment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(7), pages 761-779, July.
    2. Bernedo, Isabel M. & Salas, María D. & García-Martín, Miguel A. & Fuentes, María J., 2012. "Teacher assessment of behavior problems in foster care children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 615-621.
    3. Lloyd, E. Christopher & Barth, Richard P., 2011. "Developmental outcomes after five years for foster children returned home, remaining in care, or adopted," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(8), pages 1383-1391, August.
    4. Lo, Albert & Roben, Caroline K.P. & Maier, Collin & Fabian, Kimberly & Shauffer, Carole & Dozier, Mary, 2015. "“I want to be there when he graduates:” Foster parents show higher levels of commitment than group care providers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 95-100.
    5. Koh, Eun & Rolock, Nancy & Cross, Theodore P. & Eblen-Manning, Jennifer, 2014. "What explains instability in foster care? Comparison of a matched sample of children with stable and unstable placements," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 36-45.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Lotty, Maria & Bantry-White, Eleanor & Dunn-Galvin, Audrey, 2020. "The experiences of foster carers and facilitators of Fostering Connections: The Trauma-informed Foster Care Program: A process study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    2. 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).

    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. Cleary, Sarah E. & Barnett, Erin R. & Huckins, Jeremy F. & Butcher, Rebecca L. & Jankowski, Mary K., 2018. "A comparison of foster and adoptive parent satisfaction and commitment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 205-210.
    2. 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).
    3. Simmons-Horton, Sherri Y., 2017. "Providing age-appropriate activities for youth in foster care: Policy implementation process in three states," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 383-391.
    4. 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.
    5. Simsek, Zeynep & Erol, Nese & Oztop, Didem & Munir, Kerim, 2007. "Prevalence and predictors of emotional and behavioral problems reported by teachers among institutionally reared children and adolescents in Turkish orphanages compared with community controls," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(7), pages 883-899, July.
    6. Wijedasa, Dinithi & Selwyn, Julie, 2017. "Examining rates and risk factors for post-order adoption disruption in England and Wales through survival analyses," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 179-189.
    7. Dominick, Gregory M. & Saunders, Ruth P. & Friedman, Daniela B. & Hussey, James R. & Watkins, Ken W., 2015. "Factors associated with provision of instrumental social support for physical activity in a foster parent population," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 1-7.
    8. Kind, Nina & Bürgin, David & Clemens, Vera & Jenkel, Nils & Schmid, Marc, 2020. "Disrupting the disruption cycle – A longitudinal analysis of aggression trajectories, quality of life, psychopathology and self-efficacy in closed youth residential care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    9. Nwabuzor Ogbonnaya, Ijeoma & Villodas, Miguel T. & Ciro, Dianne & Turnlund Carver, Ann, 2022. "Cumulative victimization and number of sexual partners among youth involved with child welfare: Externalizing and internalizing problems as mediators," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    10. Bernedo, Isabel M. & Salas, María D. & Fuentes, María J. & García-Martín, Miguel Ángel, 2014. "Foster children's behavior problems and impulsivity in the family and school context," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 43-49.
    11. Barboza-Salerno, Gia Elise, 2020. "Cognitive readiness to parent, stability and change in postpartum parenting stress and social-emotional problems in early childhood: A second order growth curve model," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    12. Anthony, Rebecca & Meakings, Sarah & Doughty, Julie & Ottaway, Heather & Holland, Sally & Shelton, Katherine H., 2016. "Factors affecting adoption in Wales: Predictors of variation in time between entry to care and adoptive placement," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 184-190.
    13. Mersky, Joshua P. & Janczewski, Colleen, 2013. "Adult well-being of foster care alumni: Comparisons to other child welfare recipients and a non-child welfare sample in a high-risk, urban setting," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(3), pages 367-376.
    14. Murphy, Kelly & Moore, Kristin Anderson & Redd, Zakia & Malm, Karin, 2017. "Trauma-informed child welfare systems and children's well-being: A longitudinal evaluation of KVC's bridging the way home initiative," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 23-34.
    15. Águila-Otero, A. & Bravo, A. & Santos, I. & Del Valle, J.F., 2020. "Addressing the most damaged adolescents in the child protection system: An analysis of the profiles of young people in therapeutic residential care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    16. Kothari, Brianne H. & Godlewski, Bethany & McBeath, Bowen & McGee, Marjorie & Waid, Jeff & Lipscomb, Shannon & Bank, Lew, 2018. "A longitudinal analysis of school discipline events among youth in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 117-125.
    17. Font, Sarah A. & Sattler, Kierra M.P. & Gershoff, Elizabeth T., 2018. "Measurement and correlates of foster care placement moves," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 248-258.
    18. Dubois-Comtois, Karine & Bussières, Eve-Line & Cyr, Chantal & St-Onge, Janie & Baudry, Claire & Milot, Tristan & Labbé, Annie-Pier, 2021. "Are children and adolescents in foster care at greater risk of mental health problems than their counterparts? A meta-analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    19. Redd, Zakia & Malm, Karin & Moore, Kristin & Murphy, Kelly & Beltz, Martha, 2017. "KVC's Bridging the Way Home: An innovative approach to the application of Trauma Systems Therapy in child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 170-180.
    20. Latzman, Natasha E. & Gibbs, Deborah A. & Feinberg, Rose & Kluckman, Marianne N. & Aboul-Hosn, Sue, 2019. "Human trafficking victimization among youth who run away from foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 113-124.

    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:86:y:2018:i:c:p:200-208. 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.