First evaluation of Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory for foster children in Japan
Miyuki Matano1, Hisayo Katabira2,3, Tomoe Sekine3
1Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Me dical University, Shimotsuke City, Tochigi, Japan.
Insights
Foster children in Japan exhibit more severe behavioral problems than non-foster children, as measured by the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI). This study highlights potential links to neurological disorders and abuse histories in foster children.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Work
Background:
- Behavioral problems in foster children are a significant concern for foster care system stability.
- These issues have been understudied in the Japanese context.
- The Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI) was utilized to assess behavioral issues in foster children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate behavioral problems among foster children in Japan.
- To identify factors associated with these behavioral problems.
- To compare behavioral issues in foster children with a control group of non-foster children.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 29 foster children and 479 non-foster children.
- Utilized the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI), assessing both the intensity and problem scales.
- Conducted a retrospective analysis of foster parent-child pairs to explore causal factors.
Main Results:
- Foster children scored significantly higher on the Intensity Scale of the ECBI, indicating more severe behavioral problems.
- No significant difference was found between foster and control groups on the Problem Scale.
- Retrospective analysis identified neurological/neurodevelopmental disorders, histories of abuse, and other issues in the foster group.
Conclusions:
- Foster children exhibit more severe behavioral problems, potentially linked to neurological disorders, abuse, or socioeconomic factors.
- Foster parents' perceived difficulty in managing behaviors did not differ significantly from the control group.
- A more lenient parenting style may be adopted by foster parents dealing with children with a history of abuse.
Background:
Behavioral problems of foster children are an important issue for the maintenance of the foster care system, but they have not been adequately studied in Japan. We used the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI) to investigate behavioral problems among foster children and to examine associated factors.
Methods:
Twenty-nine foster children and their foster parents and 479 non-foster children and parents were recruited for the foster and control groups, respectively. Both groups underwent statistical comparative analyses using data from their ECBI assessments. The ECBI has two scales: the Intensity Scale quantifies the severity of child behavioral problems, and the Problem Scale captures the caregiver's perceived difficulties handling each behavior. We conducted a retrospective investigation of the background of the foster parent-child pairs to explore potential causal relationships with behavioral problems.
Results:
The mean intensity score for the foster group was significantly higher than that for the control group (p = 0.001). The mean problem scores for the foster group and the control group were not significantly different (p = 0.79). In the foster group, the retrospective investigation revealed two children with neurological or neurodevelopmental disorders, 17 with histories of abuse, and 10 with other issues.
Conclusion:
Intensity scores showed severe behavioral problems among foster children, perhaps caused by neurological disorders, abuse, parental mental health, or economic hardship. Problem scores showed no significant differences between groups. It can therefore be posited that foster parents might exhibit a more lenient parenting style when dealing with children who have a history of abuse by their biological parents.
