Foster Parenting Stress, Length of Child Time in Foster Care, and Presence of Other Children as Predictors of the Attachment and Behavior Problems of Children in Foster Care

Title of Thesis: FOSTER PARENTING STRESS, LENGTH OF CHILD TIME IN FOSTER CARE, AND PRESENCE OF OTHER CHILDREN AS PREDICTORS OF THE ATTACHMENT AND BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS OF CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE Sara Moorhead Phillips, Master of Science, 2004 Thesis directed by: Professor Sally A. Koblinsky, Chair Department of Family Studies This study examined three factors that may predict attachment patterns and behavior problems of children in foster care: length of time in a single foster home, presence of biological and/or adopted children in the foster home, and parenting stress. Participants included 50 primarily African American 8 to 12 year old foster children and their foster caregivers. Data were obtained using the Parenting Stress Index, Beech Brook Attachment Disorder Questionnaire, and Child Behavior Checklist. Correlations revealed that high negative attachment and low positive attachment were significantly related to greater behavior problems. Regression analyses revealed that time in a single foster home was a significant predictor of positive attachment, with more time in the current placement related to less positive attachment. Trends further indicated that presence of other children and extended time in a single foster home predicted high negative attachment. Implications of the findings for practitioners and policy makers are discussed. FOSTER PARENTING STRESS, LENGTH OF CHILD TIME IN FOSTER CARE, AND PRESENCE OF OTHER CHILDREN AS PREDICTORS OF THE ATTACHMENT AND BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS OF CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE by Sara Moorhead Phillips Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Maryland, College Park in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science 2004 Advisory Committee: Professor Sally A. Koblinsky, Chair Professor Elaine A. Anderson Associate Professor Jacqueline Wallen © Copyright by Sara Moorhead Phillips 2004 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank some important people in my life who have enabled me to complete this work. First I would like to acknowledge Dr. Sally Koblinksy, my thesis chair, whose efforts on my behalf taught me so much about writing, research, and lifelong learning. Her constructive criticism, encouragement, and strive for excellence enabled me to produce something of which I can truly be proud. I would also like to thank the other members of my committee. Dr. Elaine Anderson’s warm words of encouragement and thoughtful comments challenged me and gave me the confidence to keep working. Dr. Jacqueline Wallen’s dedicated assistance with my data analysis and knowledge about children in foster care were instrumental in helping me complete this project. My committee’s confidence in my abilities has meant so much to me. I would also like to acknowledge my extended family, whose love for and acceptance of all children has brought so many invaluable foster and adopted children into our family and inspired me to do this work in the first place. I would especially like to thank my parents, George and Lynn, for telling me I could be and do anything.and really meaning it. Their belief in me has been unwavering. Most importantly, I would like to thank my husband Steven, who supported me in every way possible throughout two of the most challenging years of my life. Without his hand holding, back rubbing, and dinner cooking, I could not have made it through. His sacrificial attitude, patience, and steadfast love encourage me to continue learning and growing. I am so thankful to be on life’s journey with him.