Poster #93 - Parenting interventions in foster care: A meta-analysis.

• In Event: Poster Session 17

Abstract

In 2021-2022, 32 833 children were under Child Protective Services in Quebec, Canada (Ministère de la santé et des services sociaux, 2022). Of those children, 23.5% were placed with kinship or non-kinship foster families. Children in foster care are at risk of developing behavioral, emotional, and relational problems (Cardinala et al., 2008). Externalizing behaviors in foster care children are associated with increased challenges for caregivers which results in higher risk of placement disruption (Chamberlain et al., 2006; Fisher et al., 2005; Leathers et al., 2011). Foster caregivers identify that training is necessary (Nash et Flynn, 2016). In general, parent-training programs are one of the most successful methods to intervene with children with externalizing behaviors (Maughan et al., 2005; Webster-Stratton, Reid, & Hammond, 2004). In order to support foster parents managing challenging behaviors, intervention programs, including many parent-training programs, have been developed. Results have been mixed and difficult to integrate, given the differences in measures and strategies that were used. The purpose of this series of meta-analysis is to examine the effectiveness of parent training programs, conducted with foster parents, with respect to parent and child outcomes: parental competence, child behavior problems and parenting stress. Method. A systematic search in two databases (PsycINFO and Social Services abstract) identified 60 eligible studies published between 1980 and 2021 (Figure 1). The following moderators were coded for and considered: intervention strategy (targeting attachment; parenting skills), outcome measures (sensitive parenting, discipline, parent knowledge and attitude, self-efficacy), type of foster care (kinship, non-kinship) and length of the intervention. Results of those three meta-analyses show a significant influence of intervention on parental competence (d = .45, p < .00; Q = 52.26**; k = 26), child behaviors (d = .40, p < .00; Q = 136.33***; k = 36) and parenting stress (d = .51, p < .00; Q = 79.22***; k = 23) (Table 1). Moderation analyses reveal that among the 26 studies reporting a parental competence outcome, type of intervention, specific outcomes, and quality significantly moderated effect sizes. Studies that focused on attachment content, rather than parental skills yielded higher effect sizes. Studies that focused on parenting knowledge and attitudes outcomes, as opposed to those that focused on sensitive parenting, yielded greater effect sizes. However, studies that reported lower quality presents higher effect sizes. Among the 36 studies reporting child behavior outcomes, studies presenting more hours of intervention per meetings have greater effect sizes. Among the 23 studies addressing parenting stress, studies reporting non-kinship foster care and more hours of intervention per meetings yielded higher effect sizes. Discussion. This study focused on the effectiveness of intervention strategies for foster parents that were implemented within child protection settings. As such, the overall effect size that was found revealed that, within these 60 studies, structured intervention strategies provide moderate effects regarding parental competence, child behaviors and parenting stress, and that effects are particularly high within studies that were characterized by meaningful moderating variables. Second, attachment intervention seems to be prioritised to enhance parental competence.

Authors

• Audrey Gauthier-Légaré, University Centre for Research on Youth and Families
  Presenting Author

• Julie Lessard, Laval University