Trajectories of Behavioral Adjustment Following Early Placement in Foster Care: Predicting Stability and Change Over 8 Years

Abstract

Objective-To identify trajectories of behavioral adjustment from ages 6 to 14 for youth placed in early foster care, and to examine links between trajectories and early cognitive ability and social competence; caregiver stability; and frequency, timing, and type of maltreatment. Method-Participants were 279 youth from the Southwest site of the Consortium for Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN). All youth had spent at least 5 months in out-of-home care prior to age 4 due to substantiated reports of maltreatment. Behavioral adjustment was assessed using caregiver reports on the Child Behavior Checklist at ages 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14. Cognitive ability and social competence were assessed at age 6. Caregiver stability was recorded every two years from age 6 to 14 and summed. Child protective services (CPS) maltreatment reports were coded for type and frequency. Results-Growth mixture modeling identified 3 internalizing trajectories: stable adjustment (66.7%), mixed/decreasing adjustment (25.4%), and increasing adjustment (7.9%). Four externalizing trajectories were identified: stable adjustment (46.6%), mixed adjustment (28.7%), increasing adjustment (8.2%), and stable maladjustment (16.5%). Trajectories of stable or increasing adjustment were predicted by social competence, cognitive ability, placement stability, and low frequency of physical abuse from ages 6 to 14. Conclusions-Many youth who have spent time in early out-of-home care evidence stable, long-term positive behavioral adjustment. Trajectories reflecting more positive adjustment are associated with early child cognitive ability and social competence, long-term caregiver stability, and low frequency of physical abuse in middle childhood and adolescence. Keywords maltreatment; child welfare; growth mixture modeling; behavioral adjustment Nearly 50% of youth placed in out-of-home care by child protective services experience behavior problems in the clinical range, according to the results of cross-sectional research.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Psychosocial Well-Being of Women Who Were in Foster Care as Children

“…12,42 Furthermore, researchers reported that infants and children may experience anywhere from 1 to 15 foster care placements within the first year of entering foster care, creating cumulative and distal life challenges resulting in additional psychological burdens. [43][44][45] Family preservation is an official priority of child protection services in the US and many other countries, yet foster care is a predominant social service used to protect children at risk, and it supersedes alternative social services to preserve and strengthen the family unit. 29,43,[46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55] Although some children may benefit from foster care services, research reveals that young adults with a history of foster care placement experienced disproportionate rates of psychiatric problems associated with cumulative adversities such as maltreatment, numerous foster care placements, and interpersonal losses.…”

A holistic examination of the impact of child maltreatment on child behavioral outcomes : a longitudinal multilevel analysis.

“…Child social skills proved to be one of the most important predictors of child behavior problems. This is partially consistent with current literature that suggests that early social competence predicted membership to an increasing adjustment group for internalizing behavior problems and to a stable maladjustment group for externalizing behavior problems (Proctor, Skriner, Roesch, & Litrownik, 2010).…”

“…Additionally, as discussed above, placement stability as opposed to instability predicted membership to the stable adjustment group for both internalizing (OR = 1.44, P < .05) and externalizing (OR = 1.47, P < .05) behavior problems (Proctor, Skriner, Roesch, & Litrownik, 2010). (Saluja, Kotch, & Lee, 2003).…”

Childhood maltreatment and psychological adjustment: a systematic review

“…Furthermore, because they are more likely to suffer more than one type of impairment during early development, victims of child maltreatment are also more susceptible to behavioral problems and psychological disorders both during childhood and the remainder of their development (Kim & Cicchetti, 2010;Rogosch, Oshri, & Cicchetti, 2010). Proctor, Skriner, Roesch and Litrownik (2010) note that little is known about the predictors of behavioral adjustment in individuals exposed to maltreatment. A study these authors showed that positive social adjustment is associated with early cognitive abilities, social competence, caretaker stability, and low frequency of physical abuse in middle childhood and adolescence (Proctor et al, 2010).…”

“…Proctor, Skriner, Roesch and Litrownik (2010) note that little is known about the predictors of behavioral adjustment in individuals exposed to maltreatment. A study these authors showed that positive social adjustment is associated with early cognitive abilities, social competence, caretaker stability, and low frequency of physical abuse in middle childhood and adolescence (Proctor et al, 2010).…”