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

Author

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  • 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
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    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.
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    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).

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