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Caregiver commitment to foster children: the role of child behavior

Oliver Lindhiem1, Mary Dozier

  • 1University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.

Child Abuse & Neglect
|April 17, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Child behavior problems in foster care are linked to caregiver commitment. This association remains significant even when controlling for placement factors, highlighting the importance of caregiver-child relationships.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Foster Care Research
  • Attachment Theory

Background:

  • Child behavior problems are prevalent in foster care.
  • Caregiver commitment is crucial for child well-being.
  • Understanding the interplay between child behavior and caregiver commitment is vital for effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between child behavior problems and caregiver commitment in young foster children.
  • To examine the stability of caregiver commitment over time.
  • To explore the directionality of the relationship between child behavior and caregiver commitment.

Main Methods:

  • 102 caregiver-child dyads in the foster care system participated.
  • Child behavior was assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).
  • Caregiver commitment was measured via the "This is My Baby" Interview.

Main Results:

  • A significant association was found between child behavior problems and caregiver commitment.
  • Both child behavior and caregiver commitment demonstrated high stability over an 11-month period.
  • The direction of the association could not be definitively determined due to reciprocal effects.

Conclusions:

  • Child behavior problems are significantly associated with caregiver commitment in foster children.
  • This association persists even when accounting for age of entry and time in placement.
  • Findings underscore the importance of supporting caregiver commitment in foster care settings.
Abstract

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