Search results for ‘Subject term:"physical disabilities"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 2 of 2
An evaluation of recovery factors for foster care alumni with physical or psychiatric impairments: predictors of psychological outcomes
- Authors:
- ANCTIL Tina M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 29(8), August 2007, pp.1021-1034.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This study fills a gap in the existing literature by exploring developmentally appropriate services that have the potential to improve psychological outcomes across the lifetime for children and adolescents with physical and/or psychiatric impairments in foster care. With an American national sample of adults (N = 564) who were previously in foster care (i.e., alumni) and diagnosed with a physical or mental impairment, this investigation assessed the long-term psychological effects of risk factors associated with being in foster care. By focusing on the recovery process within the resilience framework, the investigation addressed the impact of risk and protective factors on self-esteem, overall mental health, and the number of psychiatric diagnoses in foster care. Multiple regression results indicate that living with foster parents that were perceived as helpful and receiving mental health services were significant for self-esteem outcomes. Having unstable foster care placements was associated with a greater likelihood of mental health diagnoses persisting into adulthood. Most notably, when evaluating the long-term effect of specific risk factors associated with foster care (e.g., child abuse and neglect and placement experiences), alongside services designed to enhance and develop protective factors, the risk factors' effect was negligible on adult psychological outcomes.
Predictors of adult quality of life for foster care alumni with physical and/or psychiatric disabilities
- Authors:
- ANCTIL Tina M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 31(1), October 2007, pp.1087-1100.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This American study used quality of life and resilience as theoretical frameworks for evaluating predictors of outcomes for adults who received foster care services alumni of foster care and were diagnosed with a physical or psychiatric disability while in foster care. First, outcomes for foster care alumni with and without physical and psychiatric disabilities (N = 1,087) were compared according to quality of life variables. Second, using only participants with disabilities (N = 578), stepwise regression analyses were performed to determine whether risk and protective factors were associated with specific outcomes. Alumni with disabilities had significantly lower economic and health outcomes; and reported lower educational attainment, more difficulty paying monthly bills, more psychiatric diagnoses, lower self-esteem, and worse physical health than those without disabilities. For alumni with disabilities, receiving special education services and experiencing sexual abuse while in foster care were significant risk factors for poor self-esteem; conversely, receiving services and resources that prepared foster care alumni for leaving foster care (e.g., protective factors) predicted better outcomes. By expanding the quality of life outcomes analyses to investigate the impact of risk and protective factors on outcomes of foster care alumni with disabilities, this study fills a gap in the literature by assessing outcome differences within the foster-care population. The study found protective factors were associated with more educational attainment and higher self-esteem in adulthood. Conversely, those who received special education services and experienced sexual abuse while in foster care may be at the greatest risk of poor self-esteem and therefore, could benefit from services that enhance self-esteem.