title: Placement shift, sibling relationship quality, and child outcomes in foster care: a controlled study.
abstract: Sibling unity during family transitions is considered a protective factor for child behavior problems, but there is little empirical support for the widespread child protection policy of placing siblings together in foster care. In a prospective study of 156 maltreated children, siblings were classified in 1 of 3 placement groups: continuously together (n = 110), continuously apart (n = 22), and disrupted placement (siblings placed together were separated; n = 24). Changes in child adjustment as a function of sibling relationship and placement group were examined. Sibling positivity predicted lower child problems at follow-up (about 14 months later), while sibling negativity predicted higher child problems. Placement group did not affect child behavior problems at follow-up; however, compared to siblings in continuous placement (either together or apart), siblings in disrupted placement with high initial behavior problems were rated as having fewer problems at follow-up, while siblings in disrupted placement with low initial behavior problems were rated as having more problems at follow-up. These findings highlight the importance of considering relationships between siblings and the risk that one poses to another before early placement decisions are made.
authors.affiliation: Child Study Center, New York University.
authors.forename: L Oriana
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Linares
authors.affiliation: Child Study Center, New York University.
authors.forename: MiMin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, New York University.
authors.forename: Patrick E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Shrout
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Family Development, University of Georgia.
authors.forename: Gene H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Brody
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Auburn University.
authors.forename: Gregory S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Pettit
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012801:Sibling Relations / Q000208:ethnology; D035781:Siblings / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*