Caregiver Relationships’ Impact on Multisystem Youth’s Self-Esteem, Positive Coping, and Looking Forward to Their Future

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

Youth dually involved in the foster care and juvenile justice systems may have multiple caregivers throughout their involvement across systems of care and the quality and permanency of caregiving may impact their outcomes; however, little is known about these dynamics. Study data were drawn from a randomized controlled study evaluating the Making Proud Choices Curriculum (MPC), examining multisystem youth’s ability to make positive choices, prepare for adult living, and build life skills. The current study utilizes Confirmatory Factor Analysis with mediation to examine relationships among measures of caregiver relationships (α=.88, 4 items), self-esteem (α=.91, 5 items), positive coping skills (α=.77, 7 items), and youth’s ability to look forward to their future (α=.88, 8 items). The sample consisted of N=1490 youth (50% females; X̅ age 16; 52% Hispanic/Latino). Preliminary results indicated that self-esteem and positive coping skills were positively correlated (β = .142, p=.207), greater positive caregiver relationships predicted greater self-esteem (β = .142, p=.00) and ability to look forward to the future (β = .270, p=.00), which predicted greater self-esteem (β = .088, p=.01). Additionally, looking forward mediated the relationship between caregiver relationships and self-esteem (β = .024, p=.013). Best-practices and practical implications impacting multisystem youth will be addressed.

Authors

• Rula Zaru, Texas Tech University

• Elizabeth Trejos-Castillo, Texas Tech University