title: Behavior problems of children in foster care: Associations with foster mothers' representations, commitment, and the quality of mother-child interaction.
abstract: This study investigated different environmental and contextual factors associated with maltreated children's adjustment in foster care. Participants included 83 children (52 boys), ages 1-7 years, and their foster caregivers. Quality of interaction with the foster caregiver was assessed from direct observation of a free-play situation; foster caregiver attachment state of mind and commitment toward the child were assessed using two interviews; disruptive behavior symptoms were reported by foster caregivers. Results showed that quality of interaction between foster caregivers and children were associated with behavior problems, such that higher-quality interactions were related to fewer externalizing and internalizing problems. Foster caregivers' state of mind and commitment were interrelated but not directly associated with behavior problems of foster children. Type of placement moderated the association between foster caregiver commitment and foster child behavior problems. Whereas greater foster caregiver commitment was associated with higher levels of adjustment for children in foster families (kin and non-kin), this was not the case in foster-to-adopt families. Finally, the associations between foster child behavior problems and history of maltreatment and placement related-risk conditions fell below significance after considering child age and quality of interaction with the foster caregiver. Findings underscore the crucial contribution of the foster caregiver-child relationship to fostering child adjustment and, thereby, have important implications for clinical services offered to this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Canada; Department of Child Psychiatry and Research Center, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dubois-Comtois
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernier
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: George M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Tarabulsy
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cyr
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Canada.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: St-Laurent
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Canada.
authors.forename: Anne-Sophie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lanctôt
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Canada.
authors.forename: Janie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: St-Onge
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie-Julie
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Béliveau
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000300:Adoption / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D011792:Quebec; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Behavior problems; Foster care; Maltreated children; Relationship quality; Representations