Abstract
Children in foster care have a high prevalence of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis, together with other difficulties in inattentive/hyperactive behaviors, executive and cognitive processes. Early exposure to adversity is a risk factor for developing ADHD via neurodevelopmental pathways. The goal of this research is (a) to study the cognitive and executive performance and inattentive/hyperactive behavior of ADHD-diagnosed children living in foster families in Spain, and (b) to analyze the role of placement variables in their performance. The sample was composed of 102 ADHD-diagnosed children aged 6- to 12-years-old, divided into two groups: 59 children living with non-relative foster families and 43 children not involved with protection services. Children’s executive function–inhibition, working memory, flexibility, attention, intellectual capacity, verbal comprehension, perceptive reasoning, working memory and processing speed were assessed using objective testing measures. At the same time, parents and teachers reported on children’s inattentive, hyperactive and impulsive behaviors. Children in foster care obtained lower scores in the general ability index than the control group after controlling the age at assessment. However, no differences were found in executive processes. Regarding placement factors, children with shorter exposure to adversities in their birth families and more time in foster care showed better executive performance. Professionals should consider the placement history of children in foster care and its influence on their symptomatology and cognitive capacities.
Highlights
Introduction published maps and institutional affilMany children in the world are unable to live with their biological family due to various factors, including inadequate parenting style, neglect, and abuse [1]
The first goal of this study was to analyze the ADHD symptomatology, EF performance and cognitive profile of children aged 6–12 years diagnosed with ADHD who were in family foster care than a group of children diagnosed with ADHD but not involved with protection services
Contrary to our initial hypothesis, ADHD symptoms, executive and cognitive profiles were quite similar in both groups after controlling for children’s age
Summary
Introduction published maps and institutional affilMany children in the world are unable to live with their biological family due to various factors, including inadequate parenting style, neglect, and abuse [1]. According to the last available statistics, in 2019, the Spanish state had the custody of almost 42,000 minors, of which 55% were in residential care (with a high proportion of children above 10 years), and the rest in family care [2]. Family alternatives, such as fostering and adoption, imply different beneficial effects for children in need of out-of-home care [3] compared to the detrimental impact on developing institutional rearing [4].
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