Contact with biological parents following placement in foster care: Associations with preschool child externalizing behavior

Abstract

Externalizing behavior problems are a salient issue in the context of child protection services, where associations with placement stability and caregiving behavior have been documented. Moreover, although research on the association between contact with biological parents and foster child externalizing behavior problems is scarce and has yielded mixed results, several studies have shown links between the two variables. The purpose of this study is to determine the association of face-to-face contact with biological parents and externalized behaviors, while taking into account placement instability and foster parent interactive sensitivity. Fifty preschoolers and their foster parents were visited at home. Child externalizing behavior problems were self-reported by foster parents, foster parent sensitivity was measured via play observations, and information relative to placement was collected through interviews with biological parents and gathered from social services data. Results reveal that more frequent contact with biological parents and lower levels of foster parent sensitivity are independently linked to greater levels of externalizing behavior problems even after controlling for placement instability. Discussion focuses on the importance of children’s relationship experiences during foster care and the necessity to investigate their role to more clearly understand foster child socioemotional development.

Parental involvement among adoptive gay fathers: Associations with resources, time constraints, gender role, and child adjustment.

“…Only a few fathers reported behavior problems in their child. A recent study conducted in Québec with 12-to 42-month-old children in foster care yielded similar findings (Poitras, Tarabulsy, Auger, & St-Pierre, 2014). The mean score of externalizing symptoms reported by Poitras et al (2014) was actually slightly higher than the one found in our study (M ϭ 53.4; SD ϭ 11.4 and M ϭ 49.80, SD ϭ 10.03, respectively).…”

“…A recent study conducted in Québec with 12-to 42-month-old children in foster care yielded similar findings (Poitras, Tarabulsy, Auger, & St-Pierre, 2014). The mean score of externalizing symptoms reported by Poitras et al (2014) was actually slightly higher than the one found in our study (M ϭ 53.4; SD ϭ 11.4 and M ϭ 49.80, SD ϭ 10.03, respectively). Adoptive gay fathers' children do not seem to substantially differ from the normative population of foster care children.…”

Parenting during a child's placement: A systemic perspective on parental commitment

“…The sample was taken from a longitudinal cohort study (Poitras & Tarabulsy, 2017; Poitras et al, 2022). The data from the second measurement time were used for this study.…”

Interaction microanalysis of foster care research using THEME

“…It is for this reason that it is important to focus on disorganized behaviors and ERS when working with foster children ( Haselgruber et al, 2021 ), since a foster carer’s generally greater sensitivity to a child’s difficulties tends to reduce externalizing behaviors and improve both emotional security and cognitive and socio-emotional development ( Poitras et al, 2021 ). It is particularly in language strategies – promoting verbal communication and cognitive reappraisal – that foster carer-child interactions provide support to a child’s development and resilience ( Simon-Herrera et al, 2022 ).…”

“…It is particularly in language strategies – promoting verbal communication and cognitive reappraisal – that foster carer-child interactions provide support to a child’s development and resilience ( Simon-Herrera et al, 2022 ). Although foster care has as a primary objective to sustain child development and restore family life, there is moderate evidence that parent–child visits are often related to higher likelihood of externalizing symptoms manifested by a lack of behavioral control and psychomotor instability ( Poitras et al, 2021 ). Thus, while foster care may be beneficial, there remains a risk that contact between parent and child during placement will tend to sustain or reinvigorate the impact of previous traumatic experiences.…”