The Developmental Outcomes of Adolescents Involved in Child Welfare: The Effect of Peer and Caregiver Relationships

Purpose: Though research on childhood maltreatment has increased significantly , limited studies have investigated the developmental outcomes of children involved in child welfare services prospectively and systematically. Moreover, most of these studies have focused on the negative outcomes among maltreated children, and overlooked protective factors that contribute to their positive adaptation. It is generally posited that disruption in early relationships with caregivers strongly affects the developmental outcomes and interpersonal relationships among children with maltreatment history ( Sroufe & Fleeson, 1986). Though children who experience maltreatment are at high risk of behavioral and relationship difficulties, some may subsequently develop positive relationships with others, which may mitigate the negative effects of maltreatment. As children mature, particularly in the developmental phase of adolescence, they formulate significant and influential relationships with non-family members such as peers and other key adults in their lives (e.g., teachers). Yet the reciprocal relationship between youth and their parents also maintains a substantial role in youths' development. This study examined how the quality of youths' relationships with peers and caregivers (either permanent caregivers or foster caregivers) affects their psychosocial behavior outcomes over time.

Method: The study used the baseline, 18 month, and 36 month waves of data collection from the National Study of Children and Adolescent Well-being (NSCAW), a national probability sample of children and adolescents receiving child welfare services. The sample consisted of 1179 children aged 11 and older. Child behavior problems were measured by two subscales of the Youth Self-Report form of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL): Externalizing behavior problems (Delinquent and Aggressive Behavior syndromes) and Internalizing ( Anxiety/Depression syndromes). Indices of youths' relations with primary caregivers ( biological or foster parents) included parental emotional security, involvement, autonomy support, and structure as measured by the Relatedness scale from Research Assessment Package for Schools (RAPS). Peer relationship was measured by the Loneliness and Social dissatisfaction questionnaire. Data analyses included bivariate analysis and repeated measures multivariate analyses.

Results: Youth in foster care displayed higher level of internalizing behavior problems and poor relationships with their caregivers than youth who remained with biological caregivers. However no differences between these groups were found for externalizing behavior problems and peer relationships . As hypothesized, for both groups, positive peer relationship significantly predicted lower level of externalizing (B=.10, p<.001) and internalizing problems (B=.20, p<.001). For relationships with caregivers, parental emotional security and autonomy support were significantly related to lower externalizing (B=.-1.20, p<.001; B=.-.77, p<.005, respectively) and internalizing problems (B=-1.58, p<.001; B=.-.82, p<.005, respectively). By placement settings, the results showed that positive peer relationships and parental emotional security were likely to decrease externalizing and internalizing problems for both groups of youth.

Implication: The results demonstrate that, irrespective of placement setting, peer and caregiver relationships can have a significant influence on the manifestation of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Understanding more about adolescents' relationships, and devising strategies for enhancing them, will be helpful in planning targeted services for adolescents involved with child welfare services.