IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i20p10916-d658420.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Systematic Review on Foster Parents’ Psychological Adjustment and Parenting Style—An Evaluation of Foster Parents and Foster Children Variables

Author

Listed:
  • Elisa Mancinelli

    (Department of Socialization and Developmental Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35121 Padova, Italy
    Centre for Foster Care and Family Solidarity (Centro Affidi e Solidarietà Famigliare—Servizi Sociali del Comune di Padova), Via del Carmine 13, 35137 Padova, Italy)

  • Gaia Dell’Arciprete

    (Department of Socialization and Developmental Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35121 Padova, Italy)

  • Silvia Salcuni

    (Department of Socialization and Developmental Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35121 Padova, Italy)

Abstract

The current systematic review aimed to evaluate the variables influencing foster parents’ parenting stress, distress and parenting style, thereby supporting their adjustment and well-being as well as that of foster children. A PRISMA-guided search was conducted in three databases. Observational studies examining parenting stress, parenting distress (subsuming anxiety, depression and stress symptoms) and parenting style—all assessed through validated tools—were considered. A total of 16 studies were included, comprising N = 1794 non-relative foster parents (age range = 30–67 years). Results showed heightened parenting stress over time, both overall and compared to parents at large. Neither foster parents’ nor foster children’s socio-demographic characteristics significantly contributed to the increase in parenting stress; yet child-related stress and children’s externalizing problems were its main predictors. Foster parents’ couple cooperation was associated with reduced parenting stress. Moreover, the authoritative parenting style was associated with parental warmth, while the authoritarian style was associated with foster parents’ greater perceived burden, greater criticism and rejection toward the foster child. Evidence supports the mutual influence between foster parents and children. Foster care services should support foster parents’ needs within a concentric modular system, to ultimately provide better care for both foster parents and children.

Suggested Citation

  • Elisa Mancinelli & Gaia Dell’Arciprete & Silvia Salcuni, 2021. "A Systematic Review on Foster Parents’ Psychological Adjustment and Parenting Style—An Evaluation of Foster Parents and Foster Children Variables," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-25, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10916-:d:658420
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/20/10916/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/20/10916/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Vanschoonlandt, Femke & Vanderfaeillie, Johan & Van Holen, Frank & De Maeyer, Skrällan & Robberechts, Marijke, 2013. "Parenting stress and parenting behavior among foster mothers of foster children with externalizing problems," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(10), pages 1742-1750.
    2. Rayburn, Allison D. & McWey, Lenore M. & Cui, Ming, 2016. "The interrelationships between trauma and internalizing symptom trajectories among adolescents in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 332-336.
    3. Cooley, Morgan E. & Petren, Raymond E., 2011. "Foster parent perceptions of competency: Implications for foster parent training," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(10), pages 1968-1974, October.
    4. Harding, Leith & Murray, Kate & Shakespeare-Finch, Jane & Frey, Ron, 2018. "High stress experienced in the foster and kin carer role: Understanding the complexities of the carer and child in context," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 316-326.
    5. Terling-Watt, Toni, 2001. "Permanency in kinship care: an exploration of disruption rates and factors associated with placement disruption," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(2), pages 111-126, February.
    6. 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).
    7. Richardson, Evin W. & Futris, Ted G. & Mallette, Jacquelyn K. & Campbell, Avery, 2018. "Foster mothers' parenting stress and coparenting quality: An examination of the moderating role of support," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 77-82.
    8. Combs-Orme, Terri & Orme, John G., 2014. "Foster parenting together: Assessing foster parent applicant couples," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 70-80.
    9. Miller, Arianne E. & Green, Tonika Duren & Lambros, Katina M., 2019. "Foster parent self-care: A conceptual model," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 107-114.
    10. McKeough, A & Bear, K & Jones, C & Thompson, D & Kelly, PJ & Campbell, LE, 2017. "Foster carer stress and satisfaction: An investigation of organisational, psychological and placement factors," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 10-19.
    11. Orme, John G. & Combs-Orme, Terri, 2014. "Foster parenting together: Foster parent couples," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 124-132.
    12. Coleman, Kanisha L. & Wu, Qi, 2016. "Kinship care and service utilization: A review of predisposing, enabling, and need factors," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 201-210.
    13. Harding, Leith & Murray, Kate & Shakespeare-Finch, Jane & Frey, Ron, 2020. "The wellbeing of foster and kin carers: A comparative study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    14. Kaasbøll, Jannike & Lassemo, Eva & Paulsen, Veronika & Melby, Line & Osborg, Solveig O., 2019. "Foster parents' needs, perceptions and satisfaction with foster parent training: A systematic literature review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 33-41.
    15. Cooley, Morgan E. & Thompson, Heather M. & Wojciak, Armeda Stevenson, 2017. "Risk, resilience, and complexity: Experiences of foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 35-41.
    16. Whenan, Rachel & Oxlad, Melissa & Lushington, Kurt, 2009. "Factors associated with foster carer well-being, satisfaction and intention to continue providing out-of-home care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(7), pages 752-760, July.
    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. Findley, Erin & Praetorius, Regina T., 2023. "Points of foster parent stress in the system: A qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    2. McLaren, Helen & Patmisari, Emi & Jones, Michelle, 2024. "Professional quality of life of Australian Mockingbird FamilyTM foster carers: Compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 158(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. Harding, Leith & Murray, Kate & Shakespeare-Finch, Jane & Frey, Ron, 2020. "The wellbeing of foster and kin carers: A comparative study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    2. Cooley, Morgan E. & Petren, Raymond E., 2020. "A qualitative examination of coparenting among foster parent dyads," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    3. Stene, Katherine L. & Dow-Fleisner, Sarah J. & Ermacora, Dylan & Agathen, Jean & Falconnier, Lydia & Stager, Megan & Wells, Susan J., 2020. "Measuring the quality of care in kinship foster care placements," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    4. Griffiths, Austin & Holderfield-Gaither, Emily & Funge, Simon P. & Warfel, Erin T., 2021. "Satisfaction, willingness, and well-being: Examining the perceptions of a statewide sample of public and private foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    5. Harding, Leith & Murray, Kate & Shakespeare-Finch, Jane & Frey, Ron, 2018. "High stress experienced in the foster and kin carer role: Understanding the complexities of the carer and child in context," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 316-326.
    6. McLaren, Helen & Patmisari, Emi & Jones, Michelle, 2024. "Professional quality of life of Australian Mockingbird FamilyTM foster carers: Compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    7. Tullberg, Erika & Vaughon, Wendy & Muradwij, Nawal & Kerker, Bonnie D., 2019. "Unpacking “support”: Understanding the complex needs of therapeutic foster parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 1-1.
    8. Fowler, John & Day, Angelique & Lin, Hung-Peng & Tompkins, Carey & Vanderwill, Lori & Cohick, Sue, 2023. "National training and development Curriculum: Does having access to online “Right-Time” training positively impact Foster/Adoptive Parenting?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    9. Marshall, Sheila K. & Quinn, Ashley & Charles, Grant & Jamieson, Ally, 2020. "Going beyond “Who” and “How”: Expanding understanding of foster coparenting through the application of contextual action theory and action-project method," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    10. Vanderfaeillie, Johan & Gypen, Laura & West, Delphine & Van Holen, Frank, 2020. "Support needs and satisfaction of Flemish foster parents in long-term foster care: Associated characteristics of foster children, foster parents and foster placements," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    11. Vanderfaeillie, Johan & Van Den Abbeele, Stacey & Fiorentino, Giulia & Gypen, Laura & West, Delphine & Van Holen, Frank, 2020. "The role of foster parents’ basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration as predictors of autonomy-supportive parenting and the functioning of foster children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    12. Mallette, Jacquelyn K. & Almond, Lindsey & Leonard, Hannah, 2020. "Fostering healthy families: An exploration of the informal and formal support needs of foster caregivers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    13. Storer, Heather L. & Barkan, Susan E. & Stenhouse, Linnea L. & Eichenlaub, Caroline & Mallillin, Anastasia & Haggerty, Kevin P., 2014. "In search of connection: The foster youth and caregiver relationship," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 110-117.
    14. Strickler, Amy & Mihalo, Jennifer R. & Celedonia, Karen L., 2018. "Reducing barriers to using data: A learning collaborative approach to leverage collective knowledge about treatment parent satisfaction and retention," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 300-307.
    15. Schoemaker, Nikita K. & Juffer, Femmie & Rippe, Ralph C.A. & Vermeer, Harriet J. & Stoltenborgh, Marije & Jagersma, Gabrine J. & Maras, Athanasios & Alink, Lenneke R.A., 2020. "Positive parenting in foster care: Testing the effectiveness of a video-feedback intervention program on foster parents’ behavior and attitudes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    16. Festinger, Trudy & Baker, Amy J.L., 2013. "The quality of evaluations of foster parent training: An empirical review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 2147-2153.
    17. Findley, Erin & Praetorius, Regina T., 2023. "Points of foster parent stress in the system: A qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    18. Richardson, Evin W. & Futris, Ted G. & Mallette, Jacquelyn K. & Campbell, Avery, 2018. "Foster mothers' parenting stress and coparenting quality: An examination of the moderating role of support," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 77-82.
    19. Miller, Arianne E. & Green, Tonika Duren & Lambros, Katina M., 2019. "Foster parent self-care: A conceptual model," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 107-114.
    20. Haggerty, Kevin P. & Barkan, Susan E. & Skinner, Martie L. & Hanson, Koren, 2021. "Proximal outcomes of Connecting, an evidence-based, family-focused prevention program for caregivers of adolescents in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).

    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:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10916-:d:658420. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.