Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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The impact of mental health issues, substance use, and exposure to victimization on pregnancy rates among a sample of youth with past-year foster care placement
- Authors:
- COLEMAN-COWGER Victoria H., GREEN Binta Alleyne, CLARK Trenette T.
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 33(11), November 2011, pp.2207-2212.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This study compares young people entering substance abuse treatment with and without a history of foster care placement to determine any differences in mental health, substance use, and exposure to victimization. It also examines whether mental health, substance use, and/or exposure to victimization predict past pregnancy among the sample with a history of foster care placement. The pooled dataset consisted of 17,124 adolescents (12–17 years of age) who completed the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs at intake for substance abuse treatment in 2009. Of these, 366 (2.1%) reported having been in foster care in the past year. When compared with a non-foster care sample, the foster care sample reported higher levels of internal mental distress, behaviour complexity scores, and general victimization scores. Problems associated with substance use did not differ between groups. Results also revealed that, within the foster care sample, internal mental distress and gender predicted past pregnancy. The results highlight the need to provide mental health support to young people with a history of foster care in substance abuse substance abuse treatment facilities.
Help seeking among adolescents in foster care: a qualitative study
- Authors:
- JOHNSON Emily M., MENNA Rosanne
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 76, 2017, pp.92-99.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Adolescents in foster care are at high risk for mental health and emotional problems, however many do not receive needed services. The objective of this qualitative study was to examine the subjective experiences and perceptions related to mental health and help seeking of adolescents in care. Seven individuals aged 16–20 completed in-depth semi-structured interviews, which were coded following a grounded theory approach. Identified concepts or themes were related to level of need (i.e., stressful situations related to school, family, and foster care); predisposing and enabling factors (e.g., attitudes toward help seeking, previous help seeking, and awareness of sources); seeking help (i.e., a preference to talk to others with shared experiences); and stages of help seeking (i.e., problem recognition; recognition of need for help; evaluation of appropriate sources of help; and seeking help). Findings address gaps in the literature, and suggest targets for intervention. (Publisher abstract)
Prevalence and predictors of service utilization among racially and ethnically diverse adolescents in foster care diagnosed with mental health and substance abuse disorders
- Authors:
- GARCIA Antonio, COURTNEY Mark
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Public Child Welfare, 5(5), November 2011, pp.521-545.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Focusing on young people about to age out of the foster care system in the midwest United States, this study examined rates of mental health and substance abuse disorders and of mental health and drug/alcohol service use, and also investigated variations and disparities. It involved a descriptive analysis based on data collected from the Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth longitudinal study of 732 young people from foster care in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. Self-report data on symptoms and service receipt were used to identify whether groups of adolescents defined by their race and ethnicity were equally likely to receive services if they had a mental health or substance use disorder. The study findings showed that Caucasians were more likely to receive mental health services than African Americans, although race was not a significant predictor of accessing substance abuse services. The article discusses the results and makes recommendations for further research.
Treatment foster care for improving outcomes in children and young people: a systematic review
- Authors:
- TURNER William, MACDONALD Geraldine
- Journal article citation:
- Research on Social Work Practice, 21(5), September 2011, pp.501-527.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This review examined the impact of treatment foster care (TFC) on psychosocial and behavioural outcomes and discharge status for children and young people who were placed in out-of-home care in restrictive settings or at risk of placement in such settings. Five studies with 390 participants were included in this review. Findings indicated that TFC may be a useful intervention for children and young people with complex psychological and behavioural needs, who are at risk of placements in nonfamily settings that restrict opportunities for social inclusion. The authors concluded that the findings mirror those of earlier reviews. While the results of individual studies generally indicate that TFC is a promising intervention for children and young people experiencing mental health problems, behavioural problems, or problems of delinquency, the evidence base is not robust and more research is needed due to the limited number of studies in this area.
Substance use and mental health problems as predictors of HIV sexual risk behaviors among adolescents in foster care
- Authors:
- THOMPSON Ronald G. Jr., AUSLANDER Wendy F.
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Work, 36(1), February 2011, pp.33-43.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which substance use and specific mental health problems increase the likelihood of adolescents engaging in HIV sexual risk behaviours. It used data collected through interviews with a sample of 320 adolescents, aged from 15-18 years, who had been placed in foster care or other out-of-home care by the child welfare services of a midwestern metropolitan area in the US and had participated in a larger evaluation study of an HIV prevention programme. This article describes the research and its results. It confirmed that many of the foster care adolescents interviewed used substances, reported mental health problems, and engaged in sexual activities without condoms. Alcohol and marijuana were the most commonly used substances, and delinquent behaviour and marijuana use were the most significant predictors of engaging in any one HIV risk behaviour. The authors highlight the importance of further research to identify risk and protective factors for substance use, mental health problems and HIV sexual risk behaviours, and develop effective prevention efforts targeting these factors among adolescents in foster care.
Knowledge of and attitudes towards behavioral health services among older youth in the foster care system
- Authors:
- MUNSON Michelle R., NARENDORF Sarah Carter, McMILLEN J. Curtis
- Journal article citation:
- Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 28(2), April 2011, pp.97-112.
- Publisher:
- Springer
This study examined knowledge of and attitudes toward services among 268 17-year olds with psychiatric diagnoses preparing to exit foster care. A structured interview assessed knowledge of services with vignette scenarios and attitudes with a standardized scale. Descriptive statistics described the extent of knowledge and attitudes among this population and regression analyses examined predictors of these dimensions of literacy. Most youth suggested a help source, but responses often lacked specificity. Gender and depression were the strongest predictors of knowledge and attitudes, respectively. Knowing which aspects of literacy are low, and for whom, can inform education efforts to improve access to care in adulthood.
Fragile minds
- Author:
- DAVIES Gillian
- Journal article citation:
- Foster Care, 97, May 1999, pp.12-14.
- Publisher:
- Fostering Network
Increasingly, foster carers are looking after emotionally disturbed children and young people. The author talks to carers about their experiences.
The relation between dimensions of maltreatment, placement instability, and mental health among youth in foster care
- Authors:
- McGUIRE Austen, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 86, 2018, pp.10-21.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Youth in foster care with maltreatment experiences often demonstrate higher rates of mental and behavioural health problems compared to youth in the general population as well as maltreated youth who remain at home. Previous research has demonstrated that dimensions of maltreatment (type, frequency, and severity) and placement instability are two prominent factors that account for high rates of psychopathology (e.g., depression, anxiety, and disruptive behaviour disorders). The present study sought to clarify the relation between maltreatment and mental health among youth in foster care by studying both the isolated dimensions of maltreatment and cumulative maltreatment, and to determine whether the effects of maltreatment on mental health operated indirectly through placement instability. Information on youth in foster care’s (N = 496, Mage = 13.14) mental and behavioural health, maltreatment history, and placement changes were obtained from state records and primary caregivers. Using a SEM framework, the results suggest that maltreatment and placement instability each independently relate to mental and behavioural health problems. Further, none of the maltreatment types predicted greater placement instability in the current models. These findings suggest that placement stability is critical for mental health for youth in foster care, regardless of the type, severity, or frequency of their maltreatment experiences. Results also indicated that, although cumulative maltreatment predicted both internalising and externalising symptoms, maltreatment frequency and severity had direct relations to externalising symptoms only. These findings underscore the utility of comprehensive maltreatment assessment, encouraging researchers and clinicians to assess and carefully consider the relation between maltreatment dimensions and outcomes. (Edited publisher abstract)
Caregiver-adolescent disagreement on the mental health of youth in foster care: the moderating role of the caregiver relationship
- Authors:
- MCWEY Lenore M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child Maltreatment, 23(4), 2018,
- Publisher:
- Sage
This study investigates the levels of disagreement on adolescent mental health symptoms among caregivers and adolescents in foster care, to examine factors associated with caregiver–adolescent discrepancies, and the potential moderating role of caregiver–child closeness on the link between the length of time the youth lived with caregivers and discrepancies regarding adolescent mental health symptoms. These research questions were examined using two measures of adolescent–caregiver disagreement, intraclass correlations and discrepancy scores, using data from a nationally representative study of youth involved with the child welfare system. Analyses of 183 adolescent–caregiver dyads revealed caregiver–adolescent disagreement on adolescents’ internalizing and externalizing symptoms, with caregivers reporting higher levels of adolescents’ problems on average. Adolescent gender, type of maltreatment experienced, and placement type were associated with caregiver–adolescent discrepancies. Results also indicated that closeness with caregivers significantly moderated the relationship between the length of time adolescents lived with their caregivers and discrepancies on adolescent externalizing symptoms. (Edited publisher abstract)
Perspectives of youth in foster care on essential ingredients for promoting self-determination and successful transition to adult life: My life model
- Authors:
- POWERS Laurie E., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 86, 2018, pp.277-286.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Research clearly documents the serious challenges and poor outcomes experienced by many young people exiting foster care, as well as compounded disparities for the high percentage of youth in care who are identified with disabilities and/or mental health challenges. However, very little research has been conducted to specify or validate effective models for improving the transition trajectories of youth exiting care. Evidence suggests the My Life self-determination enhancement model offers a promising approach for supporting youths' self-determined and positive transition to adulthood. The model includes youth-directed, experientially oriented coaching in the application of self-determination skills to achieve youth-identified transition goals, coupled with peer mentoring workshops that provide opportunities for learning, networking and fun. This in depth qualitative study of 10 youth who completed the My Life intervention focused on investigating coaching and mentoring elements and processes that youth participants identify as most important to their success, with the intention of informing the further development of youth-directed approaches to supporting young people who are transitioning to adulthood. Themes emerged around the centrality of youth self-direction, important processes in the coaching relationship, the essential value of experiential activities and self-determination skill development, and peer mentoring experiences that youth identified as fostering their success. Implications are discussed for research and practice in supporting youth exiting foster care. (Publisher abstract)