Sibling relationships and internalizing symptoms of youth in foster care

AbstractAmong youth in foster care (N = 303, aged 11–17 years), we investigated prevalence of internalizing symptoms; associations between symptom level and maltreatment types and numbers; and the interaction between gender and maltreatment, on internalizing symptoms. Youth completed Spence Children Anxiety Scale, Short Mood Feelings Questionnaire, and Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen. Compared to community samples, symptom levels above clinical cut-off was more frequent, with social- and generalized anxiety (ES = 0.78–0.88) being most prevalent among youth in foster care. Girls reported more internalizing symptoms (ES = 0.59–0.93). Sexual abuse and neglect were associated with a broader range of internalizing symptoms (ES = 0.35–0.64). Increased incidence of maltreatment was associated with increased levels of symptoms (ES = 0.21–0.22). Associations between maltreatment and symptom level were stronger for girls. This study stresses the importance of broad screening of maltreatment and internalizing symptoms to meet the needs of youth in foster care.

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Sibling Relationship in Foster Care: Foster Parent Perspective

Journal of Family Issues ◽

10.1177/0192513x18758345 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (9) ◽

pp. 2590-2614 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Armeda Stevenson Wojciak ◽

Bryan P. Range ◽

Dumayi M. Gutierrez ◽

Nathan A. Hough ◽

Casey M. Gamboni

Keyword(s):

Foster Care ◽

Foster Parents ◽

Sibling Relationships ◽

Foster Parent ◽

Protective Role ◽

Sibling Relationship ◽

Parent Perspective ◽

The Past ◽

Semistructured Interviews ◽

Youth In Foster Care

The sibling relationships of youth in foster care has garnered increased attention over the past few years indicating the potential protective role these relationships can have. Despite this growth, very little is known about how foster parents perceive the sibling relationships of youth in foster care and ways to promote these relationships. Thematic analysis was used to analyze semistructured interviews of 15 foster parents. Three major areas emerged as a result of the analysis: (a) the experience of sibling relationships in foster care, (b) how sibling relationships should be treated in foster care, and (c) ways to promote sibling relationships. All of the foster parents in this study discussed the importance of sibling relationships for the youth in their care and offer ways to promote these relationships through collaboration and education. Implications for foster parent training and child welfare practice are discussed.

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Internalizing Symptom Profiles Among Youth in Foster Care: A Comparison Study

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.711626 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Yasmin Moussavi ◽

Kyrre Breivik ◽

Gro Janne Wergeland ◽

Bente Storm Mowatt Haugland ◽

Marit Larsen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Foster Care ◽

General Population ◽

Internalizing Symptoms ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Treatment Needs ◽

Symptom Profiles ◽

Symptom Profile ◽

Youth In Foster Care ◽

Latent Profile

Background: A high prevalence of anxiety and depression is found among youth in foster care. There is limited knowledge on the anxiety and depression symptom profiles of youth in foster care. We examined latent profiles of anxiety and depression symptoms across three unique youth samples and whether youth in foster care were more or less likely to belong to specific symptom profiles than their peers recruited from clinical or general youth populations. We also investigated if these profiles were predicted by sex and age.Methods: Self-reported anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed by Spence Children's Anxiety Scale and Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire. Data were pooled from three youth samples (N = 2,005; mean age = 13.9 years, range = 11–18 years) comprising youth in foster care (n = 245), a clinical youth sample (n = 107), and a general population youth sample (n = 1,653). Symptom profiles were identified using latent profile analyses. Multinominal logistic regression was used to predict the latent profile membership.Results: Three profiles that differed both in symptom level and shape were identified and labeled as low, medium, and high symptom profile. Compared to the general population youth sample, youth in foster care had a higher likelihood of belonging to the high symptom profile, but not the medium symptom profile. Youth from the clinical sample had an increased risk of belonging to the medium and high symptom profiles compared to the youth in foster care and general population youth samples. Across samples, girls yielded a higher likelihood of having a medium or high symptom profile. Increasing age was associated with a higher likelihood of being in the high symptom profile.Conclusion: Compared to their counterparts in the general population, youth in foster care are at risk of belonging to a class of youth with high symptom levels across subtypes of internalizing symptoms, indicating the importance of systematic and broad assessment of internalizing symptoms among these youth. Knowledge on the symptom profiles of anxiety subtypes and depression increases our understanding of the treatment needs of youth in foster care.

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