Abstract
Foster and adoptive parents often face challenges while taking care of children who, due to their adverse early life experiences, are at risk of developing insecure attachment relationships, behavior problems, and stress dysregulation. Several intervention programs have been developed to help foster and adoptive parents to overcome these challenges. In the current study, a series of eight meta-analyses were performed to examine the effectiveness of these intervention programs on four parent outcomes (sensitive parenting, k = 11, N = 684; dysfunctional discipline, k = 4, N = 239; parenting knowledge and attitudes, k = 7, N = 535; parenting stress, k = 18, N = 1,306), three child outcomes (attachment security, k = 6, N = 395; behavior problems, k = 33, N = 2,661; diurnal cortisol levels, k = 3, N = 261), and placement disruption (k = 7, N = 1,100). Results show positive effects for the four parent outcomes and child behavior problems, but not for attachment security, child diurnal cortisol levels, or placement disruption. Indirect effects on child outcomes may be delayed, and therefore long-term follow-up studies are needed to examine the effects of parenting interventions on children.
Highlights
Children placed in foster or adoptive families often have had adverse experiences before their placement
While foster care and adoptive placements can be considered as interventions themselves (Nelson, Fox, & Zeanah, 2014; van IJzendoorn & Juffer, 2006), several intervention programs have been developed to help and support foster and adoptive parents and children to form a secure attachment relationship and to help these parents deal with child behavior problems and parenting challenges
Children with adverse early life experiences may be less likely to form a secure attachment relationship with their new caregivers, which can increase the risk of the development and persistence of behavior problems and stress dysregulation
Summary
Children placed in foster or adoptive families often have had adverse experiences (e.g., abuse and/or neglect) before their placement. Meta-analytic results show that foster and adopted children are more likely to develop an insecure disorganized attachment relationship with their new parents than children living with and being raised by their biological parents (Van den Dries et al, 2009; Vasileva & Petermann, 2018), and they are more likely to develop emotional and behavioral problems (Juffer & van IJzendoorn, 2005). Adverse experiences and behavior problems of foster and adopted children increase the risk of disruptions in foster care and adoption (Coakley & Berrick, 2008; McDonald, Propp, & Murphy, 2001; Oosterman, Schuengel, Slot, Bullens, & Doreleijers, 2007), and the more previous placements and/or transitions, the higher the risk for children to develop emotional and behavioral problems later in life (Newton, Litrownik, & Landsverk, 2000). Prevention of placement disruption is important to prevent children from having to experience another separation of an attachment figure
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