Foster Mothers' Stress, Coping, and Social Support in Parenting Drug-Exposed and Other At-Risk Toddlers

Abstract

Foster mothers of drug-exposed (n = 18) and nonexposed (n = 11) toddlers ages 12 to 30 months completed standardized measures and semistructured interviews to assess differences between groups on parenting stress and satisfaction and to examine relations among stress, satisfaction, social support, and coping. Foster mothers in.both groups scored within normal ranges on parenting stress and reported high parenting satisfaction, and analyses revealed no group differences on parenting stress and satisfaction. Both parenting stress and satisfaction were significantly correlated with social support, but both significantly correlated with support seeking contrary to the expected direction. Foster mothers' low reported stress and high satisfaction are discussed relative to this group's high level of social support, and continued exploration of social support and coping as they affect foster parent outcomes is suggested. Implications for future research and interventions are discussed, and better understanding of...