Mental health and associated risk factors of Dutch school aged foster children placed in long-term foster care
- Authors:
- MAASKANT Anne M., ROOIJ Floor B. van, HERMANNS Jo M.A.
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 44, 2014, pp.207-216.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This study focused on the mental health of 239 foster children (aged 4–12) living in long-term placements in the Netherlands. Their behaviour was assessed with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, which was completed by their foster parents. The results revealed a wide range of problem behaviour (ranging from none to very serious problem behaviour), and showed that a third of the children have total difficulty scores (TDS) in the clinical range. Higher TDS appear to have a positive univariate association with age of the foster child, age upon entering the current foster family, number of prior foster placements, non-kinship placement, and fostering experience of the foster parents. The more risk factors, the higher the TDS. These findings suggest the importance of the early detection of problems and potential risk factors in foster families, and the need to support a substantial number of foster children and foster families. (Edited publisher abstract)
- Subject terms:
- foster children, foster care, long term placement, mental health problems, risk;
- Content type:
- research
- Location(s):
- Netherlands
- Link:
- Journal home page
- ISSN print:
- 0190-7409