TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of a behavioral intervention with foster families
T2 - A randomized controlled trial
AU - Platt, Christine
AU - Hunsley, Jana
AU - Platt, Brennan
AU - Morrison, Helena W
AU - Pace, Thaddeus
AU - Gephart, Sheila
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024
PY - 2024/9
Y1 - 2024/9
N2 - Background: The health and well-being of children in foster care are of high concern. A resource with which to disrupt maladaptation and promote healing are positive relationships among children and caregivers within the foster home. The research question was: Can an online intervention improve family hardiness and sibling relationships within foster care families? Objectives: To: (1) establish feasibility and acceptability of an online behavioral intervention within the foster family, (2) explore the effects of the intervention on relational quality outcomes, and (3) decompose the mechanisms driving improved family hardiness through mediation analysis. Participants and setting: 95 currently fostering families across the US, participated in a 4-week, online, self-paced, behavioral intervention with an emphasis on the relationship between children residing in the home. Methods: We employed a randomized control trial design with multiple regression analysis. Stress and relational quality outcomes were measured through psychometrically validated questionnaires on family hardiness, preparedness, and sibling relationships. Results: Significant increase in family hardiness (Cohen's d = 0.97, p < 0.001) were found compared to the control group. Measures of a positive sibling relationship score increased significantly in the intervention group (d = 0.76, p < 0.002), mediating 32 % of the total effect in hardiness score. Sibling relationship served as a mediator for increasing indicators of family hardiness. Conclusions: Providing families the sibling-inclusive intervention caused an increase in positive indicators of sibling relationship and overall family hardiness. Researchers should consider the implications of supporting foster siblings and the affects their inclusion may have on outcomes for children in foster care.
AB - Background: The health and well-being of children in foster care are of high concern. A resource with which to disrupt maladaptation and promote healing are positive relationships among children and caregivers within the foster home. The research question was: Can an online intervention improve family hardiness and sibling relationships within foster care families? Objectives: To: (1) establish feasibility and acceptability of an online behavioral intervention within the foster family, (2) explore the effects of the intervention on relational quality outcomes, and (3) decompose the mechanisms driving improved family hardiness through mediation analysis. Participants and setting: 95 currently fostering families across the US, participated in a 4-week, online, self-paced, behavioral intervention with an emphasis on the relationship between children residing in the home. Methods: We employed a randomized control trial design with multiple regression analysis. Stress and relational quality outcomes were measured through psychometrically validated questionnaires on family hardiness, preparedness, and sibling relationships. Results: Significant increase in family hardiness (Cohen's d = 0.97, p < 0.001) were found compared to the control group. Measures of a positive sibling relationship score increased significantly in the intervention group (d = 0.76, p < 0.002), mediating 32 % of the total effect in hardiness score. Sibling relationship served as a mediator for increasing indicators of family hardiness. Conclusions: Providing families the sibling-inclusive intervention caused an increase in positive indicators of sibling relationship and overall family hardiness. Researchers should consider the implications of supporting foster siblings and the affects their inclusion may have on outcomes for children in foster care.
KW - Behavioral intervention
KW - Caregiving
KW - Foster care
KW - Siblings
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85200824635&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106984
DO - 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106984
M3 - Article
C2 - 39126881
AN - SCOPUS:85200824635
SN - 0145-2134
VL - 155
JO - Child Abuse and Neglect
JF - Child Abuse and Neglect
M1 - 106984
ER -