A closer look at self-image in male foster care adolescents

Using the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire, this study attempted to determine the differences between 58 male adolescents in foster care and their peers in the normal population and to establish if there are characteristics of the adolescents' background or foster care experience related to specific domains of self-image. Characteristics from foster care history included number of placements and length of time at the current placement. Individual background characteristics included race, educational achievement, and age. Foster care youths had lower family self-image and emotional health and higher social self-image when compared with the normative population. Lower scores on several domains of self-image were associated with being younger, being white, having lower academic achievement, having more placements, and staying at the current placement for a longer time. The implications of these findings for foster care placement decisions are discussed.