‘They needed the attention more than I did’: How do the birth children of foster carers experience the relationship with their parents?

Abstract

Research has highlighted the potential tensions and risk of disruption to care placements when foster carers have birth children living at home. Given the limited research attention given to these young people and the importance of retaining carers, it seems important for policy and practice to investigate the parent–child relationship in this context. Therefore, this study seeks to explore how the birth children of foster carers experience their relationship with their parents. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyse semi-structured interviews with eight such young people (aged 14–16 years). Three superordinate themes emerged: (1) relational processes that give value to my role in the family; (2) threats to our relationship; and (3) making sense as a way of managing the threats. Each of these contained several subthemes. While there were consistent patterns of experience, there was also individual variation. The findings suggest that the processes of ‘making sense’ and ‘feeling valued’ serve to buffer the impact of potential threats to the parent–child relationship. Theoretical implications include the application of a model that elucidates the relationship between the themes. This has clinical implications for understanding and informing the way services support both foster carers and their children.

‘The love is spread out’: how birth children talk about their experiences of living with foster children

“…However, it could be that as children begin to experience their parents as less available, they manage feelings of loss by minimising and dismissing their own needs. Again consistent with existing literature, Höjer (2007) reported that birth children tended to cope with difficulties independently, sometimes through not showing their emotions (Adams, Hassett and Lumsden, 2018; Martin, 1993; Swan, 2002; Williams, 2017a). In the present study, Skye’s attachment experiences suggest that her parents are attuned to her.…”

“…More recent research reports similar findings (e.g. Adams, Hassett and Lumsden, 2018; Thompson, McPherson and Marsland, 2016). Höjer (2007) attributed this reduced availability to the parents’ involvement with the foster children, which is to some extent supported by this research.…”

“…Children also reported positive outcomes from their own caring role. This has been found in the literature on birth children’s experiences of fostering where the value of helping others was highlighted (Adams, Hassett and Lumsden, 2018; Pugh, 1996; Thompson and McPherson, 2011), yet research also has found that birth children can feel pressure from expectations to be responsible and caring (Nordenfors, 2016; Raineri, Calcaterra and Folgheraiter, 2018; Swan, 2002; Williams, 2017b; Younes and Harp, 2007). Although positive about their caring role, ambivalence was present in some children’s accounts, with idealisation of caregiving juxtaposed with not wanting to take it up when older.…”

“…Research into birth children’s experiences of foster siblings has reported both positive and negative experiences (e.g. Adams, Hassett and Lumsden, 2018; Mainpin, Minary and Boutanquoi, 2016; Raineri, Calcaterra and Folgheraiter, 2018; Serbinski, 2017; Sutton and Stack, 2013; Targowska, Cavazzi and Lund, 2016; Thompson, McPherson and Marsland, 2016; Twigg and Swan, 2007; Watson and Jones, 2002; Williams, 2017a). Thompson and McPherson (2011) undertook a thematic analysis of 12 studies into the experience of living with a foster sibling and identified five key themes: positive experiences; loss; conflict; transitions; and coping.…”

Revealing the Profile of Foster Parents, Biological Parents, Foster Children and the Triadic Relationship amongst them

“…The interactions among birth children of foster carers and the bond between foster carers and biological parents are factors that add to the intricate dynamics of foster care. Studying the interactions between birth children, foster carers, and biological parents offers essential insights into the complex dynamics of foster care relationships (Adams et al, 2018;Järvinen & Luckow, 2020).…”