Risk behaviors in maltreated youth placed in foster care: a longitudinal study of protective and vulnerability factors.
OBJECTIVE
Few studies have examined the impact of placement in foster care prospectively to determine what early responses might predict later functioning. The current study examined protective and vulnerability factors in a longitudinal study of youth placed in foster care.


METHODS
A cohort of 214 ethnically-diverse youth, ages 7-12, who entered foster care between May 1990 and October 1991 were recruited for the Time 1 study if they remained in foster care for at least 5 months. For the Time 1 study, youth and their caregivers were interviewed and assessed approximately 6 months following their initial placement. Six years later, as adolescents, the youth were re-interviewed regarding their involvement in four domains of risk behavior.


RESULTS
Bivariate analyses indicated that several Time 1 control variables (e.g., age, ethnicity, type of maltreatment, behavior problems) and Time 1 psychosocial predictor variables (i.e., dimensions of social support and self-perception) were related to the Time 2 risk behavior outcomes. Regression analyses with all variables accounted for between 33 and 46% of the variance, with the psychosocial predictor variables, as a group, significant over and above the control variables.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that there are some modifiable protective and vulnerability factors present shortly after maltreated youth are placed in foster care that predict their engagement in adolescent risk behaviors 6 years later.
Taussig
Heather N
HN
Department of Pediatrics, Kempe Children's Center, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 1825 Marion St., Denver, CO 80218, USA.
D000367:Age Factors; D000465:Algorithms; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000523:psychology