What changes during specialized foster care?

What is it about?

This longitudinal, exploratory study analysed data on adaptive functioning, emotional and social problems, and self-concept in a specialized foster care service in Sweden. The focus of the study was on the development of the children and young people in placement.

Featured Image

Photo by kylie De Guia on Unsplash

Photo by kylie De Guia on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This study is important because many specialized foster care models are focused on behaviour change, whereas this foster care model has a relational and mentalizing focus. Self-ratings showed significant improvements in disruptive behaviour, anger, anxiety, and depression. Adaptive functioning as rated by foster parents improved, but not enough to catch up with the non-clinical norm group. Similar to the results of a previous study of the same treatment model, children and young people rated improvement while their foster parents did not do so to the same extent. Possible explanations for this are discussed in the paper.