Parental Domestic Violence Research Articles

Risk Factors of Violence against Women in Peru

Based on the results of previous investigations, this study seeks for individual, relationship and community characteristics among women living with their partner associated with intimate partner violence [IPV] victimization. The sample of 19,131 women was taken from the 2016 Peru Demographic and Health Survey. A binomial logistic regression model showed among the most significant risk factors: heavy drinking by the woman’s partner (OR = 8.655, p < .001), having witnessed parental domestic violence (OR = 1.496, p < .001) and having experienced physical punishment during childhood (OR = 1.306, p < .001). Other factors related to higher odds of IPV at the individual level include employment and low educational attainment. Relationship risk factors comprise, 25 to 29 years of relationship duration, living in cohabitation, previous unions and low socioeconomic status. At the community level, living in an urban residence increases the likelihood of abuse. These findings highlight the need to include these factors, in the IPV prevention strategies.

Suicide Attempts Among Individuals With Specific Learning Disorders: An Underrecognized Issue

Several studies have linked specific learning disorders (SLDs) with suicidal ideation, but less is known about the disorders’ association with suicide attempts. This gap in the literature is addressed via the 2012 nationally representative Canadian Community Health Survey (n = 21,744). The prevalence of lifetime suicide attempts among those with an SLD was much higher than those without (11.1% vs. 2.7%, p < .001). In comparison with their peers without SLDs, adults with SLDs had 46% higher odds of having ever attempted suicide, even after adjusting for most known risk factors (e.g., childhood adversities, history of mental illness and substance abuse, sociodemographics; odds ratio = 1.46, 95% CI [1.05, 2.04]). The largest attenuation in the association between SLD and suicidal attempts was accounted for by adverse childhood experiences. Among those with SLDs (n = 745), a history of witnessing chronic parental domestic violence and ever having had a major depressive disorder were associated with substantially higher odds of suicide attempts.

A Safe Place To Go? A Descriptive Study of Safety Strategies Among College Female Students

Safety planning, simply put, is a detailed, personalized, and practical plan that is created to protect oneself against an abusive (or potentially abusive) partner. Relying on self-reported data from an online survey of female college students from a state university in Texas, this study focuses on safety strategies centered around escape planning (e.g., whether or not students have a safe place to go, where they would go, and what they would take with them) as well as what factors influence this (e.g., prior experiences with intimate partner violence). Using bivariate analyses to determine any association between factors that influence various aspects of the safety planning process, a number of important findings are reported. The majority of students indicated that they had a safe place to go and this was most likely to be a family or friend’s residence. Additionally, most students noted that they would take what is typically discussed in safety planning strategies (e.g., money, cellular phone, keys, identification, and clothing). Students who reported lower levels of social support and prior exposure to parental domestic violence were more likely to report they did not have a safe place to go. These findings underscore the importance of expanding violence prevention activities on college campuses beyond sexual assault, with information provided to all students on safety planning.

Adverse childhood experiences and behavioral problems in middle childhood

Children who have been exposed to maltreatment and other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are at increased risk for various negative adult health outcomes, including cancer, liver disease, substance abuse, and depression. However, the proximal associations between ACEs and behavioral outcomes during the middle childhood years have been understudied. In addition, many of the ACE studies contain methodological limitations such as reliance on retrospective reports and limited generalizability to populations of lower socioeconomic advantage. The current study uses data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a national urban birth cohort, to prospectively assess the adverse experiences and subsequent behavior problems of over 3000 children. Eight ACE categories to which a child was exposed by age 5 were investigated: childhood abuse (emotional and physical), neglect (emotional and physical), and parental domestic violence, anxiety or depression, substance abuse, or incarceration. Results from bivariate analyses indicated that Black children and children with mothers of low education were particularly likely to have been exposed to multiple ACE categories. Regression analyses showed that exposure to ACEs is strongly associated with externalizing and internalizing behaviors and likelihood of ADHD diagnosis in middle childhood. Variation in these associations by racial/ethnic, gender, and maternal education subgroups are examined. This study provides evidence that children as young as 9 begin to show behavioral problems after exposure to early childhood adversities.

Three Types of Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Alcohol and Drug Dependence Among Adults: An Investigation Using Population-Based Data

ABSTRACTBackground: There are several gaps in the literature on the link between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and substance use, including the impact of less direct forms of abuse, such as witnessing domestic violence, and the role of gender as a moderator of the relationship. Objectives: To estimate associations between three types of ACEs (sexual abuse, physical abuse, and exposure to parental domestic violence), when mutually adjusted, and two substance dependence outcomes (alcohol and drug dependence), while considering the potential moderating role of gender and the effects of a range of potential explanatory factors. Methods: Secondary analysis of the nationally representative Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health (2012) using logistic regression (n = 21,554). A series of models were tested separately for each outcome, including ACEs, gender, race, and age. First, gender interactions were tested. Next, potential explanatory factors were entered into the models and the extent of attenuation was noted. These factors included: depression, anxiety, smoking, pain, insomnia, social support, and socioeconomic status Results: All three ACEs are associated with significantly higher odds of alcohol and drug dependence, even when controlling for all factors simultaneously; however, no strong evidence for gender interactions was found. In the fully adjusted model, odds ratios for drug dependence vary from 2.52 (sexual abuse) to 1.34 (exposure to domestic violence). The comparable range for alcohol dependence is 2.13 (physical abuse) to 1.49 (exposure to domestic violence). Conclusions/Importance: Three types of ACEs, including direct and indirect forms of violence, are independently related to lifetime drug and alcohol dependence among adult Canadians.

Arthritis and suicide attempts: findings from a large nationally representative Canadian survey.

The objectives of this study were (1) to determine the odds of suicide attempts among those with arthritis compared with those without and to see what factors attenuate this association and (2) to identify which factors are associated with suicide attempts among adults with arthritis. Secondary data analysis of the nationally representative 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health (CCHS-MH) was performed. For objective 1, those with and without arthritis were included (n=21,744). For objective 2, only individuals who had arthritis (n=4885) were included. A series of binary logistic regression analyses of suicide attempts were conducted for each objective, with adjustments for socio-demographics, childhood adversities, lifetime mental health and chronic pain. After full adjustment for the above listed variables, the odds of suicide attempts among adults with arthritis were 1.46. Among those with arthritis, early adversities alone explained 24% of the variability in suicide attempts. After full adjustment, the odds of suicide attempts among those with arthritis were significantly higher among those who had experienced childhood sexual abuse (OR=3.77), chronic parental domestic violence (OR=3.97) or childhood physical abuse (1.82), those who had ever been addicted to drugs or alcohol (OR=1.76) and ever had a depressive disorder (OR=3.22) or an anxiety disorder (OR=2.34) and those who were currently in chronic pain (OR=1.50). Younger adults with arthritis were more likely to report having attempted suicide. Future prospective research is needed to uncover plausible mechanisms through which arthritis and suicide attempts are linked.

The association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and suicide attempts in a population-based study.

To further our understanding of the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and suicidal behaviour, this study investigates the association between three types of ACEs and lifetime suicide attempts, while considering potential gender-specific and mediating effects. Data were obtained from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health (CCHS-MH), a cross-sectional, population-based survey comprised of respondents aged 18 or older who provided self-reported data on past experiences of suicide attempts, as well as childhood sexual abuse (CSA), childhood physical abuse (CPA) and parental domestic violence (PDV) (n = 22 559). After testing for ACE by gender interactions, we estimated the odds of lifetime suicide attempts for each ACE and then investigated whether depression, anxiety, substance abuse and chronic pain acted as mediators of the relationship. The odds of suicide attempts are significantly higher among those with a history of CPA (OR = 3.29; 99.9% CI 2.33-4.64), CSA (OR = 4.42; 99.9% CI 3.14-6.23) or PDV (OR = 2.52; 99.9% CI 1.69-3.76), when ACEs are mutually adjusted. There is little evidence that gender acts as a moderator; however, depression, anxiety, substance abuse and chronic pain appear to partially mediate the associations. Depression alone accounts for about a quarter of the associations with CSA and CPA. Mental health factors and chronic pain appear only to partially mediate relationships between ACEs and lifetime suicide attempts. Future research should look at other pathways with the goal of developing multi-level interventions.

Understanding the Association Between Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Current Anxiety: A Population-Based Study

This study's objectives were to investigate the independent relationship between COPD and past-year Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in a population-based sample of adult Canadians and to identify significant correlates of GAD among COPD patients. A series of logistic regression analyses were conducted with a sample of 11,163 respondents aged 50+ from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey–Mental Health to determine the degree to which the direct association between COPD and GAD was attenuated by socio-demographic factors, social support, health behaviors, sleep problems, pain, functional limitations, and early childhood adversities. Additional analyses were completed using the sub-sample of those diagnosed with COPD (n = 746) to determine predictors of GAD. One in 17 (5.8%) of older individuals with COPD had past-year GAD, in comparison to 1.7% of those without (p < .001). The age-sex-race adjusted odds of GAD were four times higher for those with COPD compared to those without COPD (OR = 3.90, 95%CI: 2.64, 5.77). After full adjustment for 18 characteristics, these odds declined to 1.72 (95%CI: 1.10, 2.71). Factors associated with GAD among those with COPD include not having a confidant (OR = 7.85, 95%CI: 3.47, 17.75), exposure to parental domestic violence (OR = 5.63, 95% CI: 2.07, 15.34) and lifetime depressive disorders (OR = 3.59, 95% CI:1.61,7.98). Those with COPD have substantially higher odds of GAD even after most known risk factors for GAD are accounted for. These findings have implications for targeted outreach and screening, particularly for patients with pain and functional limitations. The importance of a multidisciplinary healthcare team is underscored by the multiple issues that may impact GAD among COPD patients.

Childhood Maltreatment Is Associated with Ulcerative Colitis but Not Crohn's Disease: Findings from a Population-based Study.

Previous research suggests a link between childhood adversities and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); however, study limitations prevent generalization of findings. To address this, the current study uses a Canadian population-based sample to investigate the relationship between 3 childhood adversities and 2 types of IBD while controlling for a range of factors. Secondary data analysis of a subsample of the nationally representative 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health consisted of those with no missing data on any of the variables of interest (n = 21,852). The survey response rate was 68.9%. This study used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios of 3 types of childhood adversities (physical abuse, sexual abuse, and witnessing parental domestic violence) separately for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, each compared with those without IBD. The final model controls for sociodemographics, health behaviors, and mental health. The exposure was assessed by retrospective self-report, and the outcome was by self-report of a health professional diagnosis. In a fully adjusted model, those who are physically (odds ratio = 2.28; confidence interval, 1.39-3.75) or sexually abused (odds ratio = 2.64; confidence interval, 1.61-4.33) during childhood had significantly higher odds of ulcerative colitis than their non-maltreated peers. No relationship is found between witnessing parental domestic violence and ulcerative colitis. None of the early adversities are significantly related to Crohn's disease. Childhood physical and sexual abuse are related to ulcerative colitis, but not Crohn's disease. Future research that can address epigenetic and neuroendocrine factors should investigate pathways through which early adversities may translate into one type of IBD but not another.

Long-Term Physical Health Consequences of Adverse Childhood Experiences

This study examined associations between adverse childhood family experiences and adult physical health using data from 52,250 U.S. adults aged 18 to 64 from the 2009 to 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. We found that experiencing childhood physical, verbal, or sexual abuse, witnessing parental domestic violence, experiencing parental divorce, and living with someone who was depressed, abused drugs or alcohol, or who had been incarcerated were associated with one or more of the following health outcomes: self-rated health, functional limitations, diabetes, and heart attack. Adult socioeconomic status and poor mental health and health behaviors significantly mediated several of these associations. The results of this study highlight the importance of family-based adverse childhood experiences on adult health outcomes and suggest that adult socioeconomic status (SES) and stress-related coping behaviors may be crucial links between trauma in the childhood home and adult health.

Childhood adversity and behavioral health outcomes for youth: An investigation using state administrative data

This study aimed to measure the relative contribution of adverse experiences to adolescent behavioral health problems using administrative data. Specifically, we sought to understand the predictive value of adverse experiences on the presence of mental health and substance abuse problems for youth receiving publicly funded social and health services. Medicaid claims and other service records were analyzed for 125,123 youth age 12–17 and their biological parents. Measures from administrative records reflected presence of parental domestic violence, mental illness, substance abuse, criminal justice involvement, child abuse and/or neglect, homelessness, and death of a biological parent. Mental health and substance abuse status of adolescents were analyzed as functions of adverse experiences and other youth characteristics using logistic regression. In multivariate analyses, all predictors except parental domestic violence were statistically significant for substance abuse; parental death, parental mental illness, child abuse or neglect and homelessness were statistically significant for mental illness. Odds ratios for child abuse/neglect were particularly high in both models. The ability to identify risks during childhood using administrative data suggests the potential to target prevention and early intervention efforts for children with specific family risk factors who are at increased risk for developing behavioral health problems during adolescence. This study illustrates the utility of administrative data in understanding adverse experiences on children and the advantages and disadvantages of this approach.

The Painful Legacy of Childhood Violence: Migraine Headaches Among Adult Survivors of Adverse Childhood Experiences.

Childhood adversities have been associated with adult migraine in the general population. However, most research has focused on only a few types of maltreatment and has not always controlled for factors correlated with early adversities and migraine. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between early adversities and migraine, while controlling for a range of potential explanatory factors. We analyzed data from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey - Mental Health. Using a representative sample of 10,358 men and 12,638 women, we undertook gender-specific logistic regression analyses to determine the association between number and type of self-reported childhood adversities (physical abuse, sexual abuse, and witnessing parental domestic violence) and migraine, while controlling for sociodemographics, comorbid adversities, health behaviors, depression, and anxiety. In total, 6.5% of men and 14.2% of women reported migraines. All three adversities were significantly associated with migraine for both genders, even after controlling for a range of variables. The fully adjusted odds of migraine associated with physical abuse, parental domestic violence, and sexual abuse were 1.61 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.42-1.83), 1.64 (95% CI = 1.39-1.93), and 1.32 (95% CI = 1.11-1.57), respectively, for women, and 1.50 (95% CI = 1.25-1.80), 1.52 (95% CI = 1.16-1.98), and 1.70 (95% CI = 1.22-2.36) for men. Greater number of adversities was also associated with increasing odds of migraine. Men reporting all three adversities had over three times (odds ratio = 3.26; 95% CI = 2.09-5.07) and women over two times (OR = 2.85; 95% CI = 2.25-3.60) the odds of migraine compared with those without childhood adversities. Number and type of early adversities are associated with migraine among Canadian men and women.

The relationship between early adversities and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

This study examined whether retrospectively reported childhood physical abuse, childhood sexual abuse and/or exposure to parental domestic violence were associated with self-report of a health-professional diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among adults. We analyzed nationally representative data from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health using gender-specific bivariate and logistic regression analyses (n=10,496 men; n=12,877 women). For both men and women, childhood physical abuse was associated with significantly higher odds of reporting ADHD (men odds ratio [OR]=1.66, p<.001; women OR=1.95, p<.001). For both genders, childhood sexual abuse was also significantly related to higher odds of ADHD (men OR=2.57, p<.001; women OR=2.55, p<.001); however, exposure to parental domestic violence was only associated with elevated odds of ADHD among women (men OR=0.89, p=.60; women OR=1.54, p=.03). The results demonstrate a link between childhood physical and sexual abuse and ADHD for both men and women. Future prospective studies are required to further understand this interesting relationship.

Telling Stories: Dramatherapy and Theatre in Education with Boys who Have Experienced Parental Domestic Violence

This article examines the effects of parental domestic violence on children and presents a case study of a group work project with primary school aged boys. This piece of work was a joint project between two dramatherapists and Leeds Theatre in Education Company and develops the dramatherapy group into an improvised performance. It considers how the different styles of work complemented each other and enabled the boys to begin to express their emotions in a profound manner through the medium of drama. It examines the relationship between the boys and their mothers and suggests that dramatherapy is a valuable approach in breaking cyclical domestic violence.

Domestic violence and immigration status among Latina mothers in the child welfare system: Findings from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being II (NSCAW II)

Many children involved with the child welfare system witness parental domestic violence. The association between children's domestic violence exposure and child welfare involvement may be influenced by certain socio-cultural factors; however, minimal research has examined this relationship. The current study compares domestic violence experiences and case outcomes among Latinas who are legal immigrants (n=39), unauthorized immigrants (n=77), naturalized citizens (n=30), and US-born citizen mothers (n=383) reported for child maltreatment. This analysis used data from the second round of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being. Mothers were asked about whether they experienced domestic violence during the past year. In addition, data were collected to assess if (a) domestic violence was the primary abuse type reported and, if so, (b) the maltreatment allegation was substantiated. Results show that naturalized citizens, legal residents, and unauthorized immigrants did not differ from US-born citizens in self-reports of domestic violence; approximately 33% of mothers reported experiences of domestic violence within the past year. Yet, unauthorized immigrants were 3.76 times more likely than US-born citizens to have cases with allegations of domestic violence as the primary abuse type. Despite higher rates of alleged domestic violence, unauthorized citizens were not more likely than US-born citizens to have these cases substantiated for domestic violence (F(2.26, 153.99)=0.709, p=.510). Findings highlight that domestic violence is not accurately accounted for in families with unauthorized immigrant mothers. We recommend child welfare workers are trained to properly assess and fulfill the needs of immigrant families, particularly as it relates to domestic violence.

Understanding the Experience of Female Adolescent Delinquents: A Phenomenological Study

The involvement of adolescents in delinquent behaviors in Malaysia is not a new phenomenon. Although many studies have been conducted to study this issue in the West, there has been little attention given to that in Malaysia. Adolescents’ perceptions, feelings, and beliefs need to be understood and given serious consideration. This qualitative phenomenological research is aimed to understand the life experiences of seven teenage girls who were involved in delinquent behaviors. Seven adolescents who were placed at one rehabilitation school in Malaysia participated in the study. Expressive art activities in group counseling were conducted to allow them sharing their life experience. Triangulation from a variety of sources, i.e., open ended interview, which consists of three series, observation, and analysis of documents were used to gather the data. Overall, the results indicated that family dynamics is a crucial element that contributes to delinquency problems. Several themes related to family dynamics that contribute to delinquent acts among adolescents are parents and siblings involve in crime, close relatives involve in crime, poverties and difficulties in life, lack of parental care, divorce, turmoil and domestic violence, polygamy, and family moral support. Implications of the findings for practitioners are also discussed. Keywords - Sociology, qualitative phenomenological research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Barriers and Supports to Divorce for Victimised British-Indian Mothers and Consequences of Divorce: Narratives of British-Indian Adult Children of Divorce

Divorce or separation is one route towards addressing high conflict in marriages and may be a key route out of situations of significant domestic violence for women and children. However, divorce has been associated with feminisation of poverty and other negative outcomes which can be further exacerbated for victimised women. While there has been research as to what prevents women from leaving violent marriages, there is little research on what prompts women to leave and separate or divorce. This literature is particularly limited for minority ethnic women, for whom both the contexts of domestic violence and divorce may be additionally complex due to the superimposition of several oppressive structures such as race, patriarchy, gender and immigration that render them particularly vulnerable and limit their help-seeking approaches. However, victimised minority ethnic women do make strategic choices to seek help in domestic violence situations and even to divorce. This paper address this gap in literature by presenting a study that explores the narratives of British-Indian adult children who experienced and witnessed parental domestic violence and parental divorce. The paper presents the perspectives of these children to highlight the context, barriers and supports that participants believed their mothers had to address domestic violence and to divorce, the decisions their mothers made and the consequences of these decisions. The analysis suggests that barriers and supports towards help-seeking for domestic violence and to divorce and the consequences of divorce are embedded in the community contexts for British-Indian women. The implications towards informing appropriate support to victimised and divorced women within their communities are discussed.

The Significance of Animal Cruelty in Child Protection Investigations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency with which child protection workers (CPWs) in Ontario, Canada, seek information about animal cruelty during investigations of child maltreatment and the extent to which they consider information about animal cruelty when making decisions about whether intervention is required. The CPWs (N = 78) responded to an online survey about their experiences with animal cruelty during child protection investigations in the previous year. Few CPWs routinely asked questions about animal cruelty during investigations, but those who did ask questions were significantly more likely to report disclosures of animal cruelty by children and caregivers than those who did not ask questions. Many CPWs had directly observed children and caregivers physically harming animals. Almost all respondents indicated that animal cruelty was an important factor to consider when making intervention decisions. The results suggest that CPWs should consider routinely asking children and caregivers questions about animal cruelty and observe the behavior and living conditions of family pets when conducting risk assessments. Future research should determine whether animal cruelty is a reliable indicator of exposure to family violence. KEY WORDS: animal cruelty; child abuse; child protection; domestic violence; risk assessment ********** Data from several surveys of women seeking help from domestic violence shelters indicate that a substantial proportion of adult perpetrators of domestic violence also abuse animals. Results revealed that between 44% and 57% of female pet-owners had partners who harmed or killed family pets (Ascione, 1998; Carlisle-Frank, Frank, & Nielsen, 2004; Faver & Strand, 2003). Furthermore, two studies found that animal cruelty was perpetrated more frequently by the partners of domestic violence victims than by the partners of women from community samples (Ascione et al., 2007; Volant, Johnson, Gullone, & Coleman, 2008). A small group of studies provided evidence that children whose mothers experience domestic violence are significantly more likely to witness pet abuse than children from families in which no domestic violence occurs (Ascione et al., 2007; DeGue & DiLillo, 2009; Volant et al., 2008). Furthermore, children who are exposed to parental domestic violence are more likely to abuse animals than children who are not exposed to domestic violence (Ascione et al., 2007; Baldry, 2003; Currie, 2006; Volant et al., 2008). THE LINK BETWEEN ANIMAL CRUELTY AND CHILD ABUSE Results of recent studies demonstrated that children who had been abused were more likely to engage in animal cruelty than those who had not been abused (for example, Ascione, Friedrich, Heath, & Hayashi, 2003; DeGue & DiLillo, 2009). With respect to caregiver-perpetrated animal cruelty, the results of one study indicated that, among families in which child abuse had been substantiated, parents were the most frequent perpetrators of animal cruelty in cases that involved pain and suffering or the inhumane death of an animal (DeViney, Dickert, & Lockwood, 1983). In another study, one-third of women who had experienced domestic violence and whose partners had abused pets reported that their children had been abused; women whose pets had not been abused by their partners were less likely to report child abuse (Flynn, 2000b). RELEVANCE OF ANIMAL CRUELTY TO CHILD PROTECTION EFFORTS Given the strengthening evidence of a link between animal cruelty and family violence, it has been argued that animal cruelty receives insufficient attention from social service providers (for example, Flynn, 2000a). Some have suggested that social service professionals should routinely ask about animal cruelty when conducting assessments for family violence and that expanded collaboration among animal welfare, child protection, and domestic violence organizations is necessary to identify children who are at risk of abuse and to assist families who wish to remove pets from abusive homes (Arkow, 1996; Ascione, 1998; Baldry, 2003; Bell, 2001; Boat, 1999; Faver & Strand, 2003; Montminy-Danna, 2007; Volant et al. …

PARTNERS IN THE PROCESS: HOW ATTORNEYS PREPARE THEIR CLIENTS FOR CUSTODY EVALUATIONS AND LITIGATION

We surveyed 113 family attorneys regarding what they did to prepare their clients for child custody evaluations and litigation. Findings revealed that participants saw child custody evaluations as useful on a variety of levels and effective in settling cases. In general, participants reported using professionally acceptable procedures, appropriately advocated for their clients, and dealt with complaints in a reasonable fashion. Referrals to mental health professionals in advance of a child custody evaluation were generally made to provide support rather than for evaluation or test preparation. Work product reviews by mental health consultants were infrequent, although such reviews were seen as highly useful by those who used them. Lastly, participants reported that allegations of parental alienation and domestic violence were often used to gain leverage in custody cases. Implications for practice are discussed for both attorneys and evaluators.

Placements dans l’enfance et devenir à l’âge adulte : insertion générale et qualité de vie liée à la santé

Background Child welfare literature underlines a higher prevalence of health problems and psychiatric disabilities in fostered young people than in the general population. Questions remain about their social integration and health in the long term: Which risk factors continue to alter their pathway? Which protective factors have minimized a problematic psychosocial adaptation over time? Purpose A follow-up study in the past was conducted on a SOS children's village on 123 young people who had been reared for more than 3 years and left care after the age of 14. A survey was mailed to these adults aged 23–50 years old, followed by face-to-face interviews. All relevant institutional files were analysed. Attrition rates were very low in this high-risk population. An overall score of social integration aggregates data regarding: occupational situation, family life, relationships, general psychosocial state. Health-related quality of life (Duke Profile) was analyzed by means of multiple dimensions including mental and social health, self-esteem, depression and disability. Multivariate analyses by logistic regression were used to examine the specific roles of decisive factors on social integration. Key findings At a mean age of 36.5 years, two thirds were well integrated socio-economically, only one out of five had psychosocial problems. Three factors increased the risk of poor socioeconomic integration: accumulation of parental risk factors, having been placed with two or more siblings’ groups and persisting mental health problems when leaving care. The quality of life was significantly associated with a better perception of social and mental health and with self-esteem. It varied positively, taken into account with professional integration, relationships and supportive environment, and negatively according to past adversities: parental domestic violence, maltreatment, and persisting mental health problems. Except from disabilities and to a lesser degree sociability, globally, these former fostered population did not seem different from counterparts in terms of health measures, anxiety and depression. Implications Results highlight the importance of continuity and stability in placement. For the professionals, it is necessary to give more attention to the question of rearing together several groups of siblings. Persisting mental health problems during placement and when leaving care would suggest a vital need for the staff to identify and to implement intensive, appropriate therapeutic care.