Citation

Rayburn AD, Withers MC, McWey LM. J. Fam. Violence 2018; 33(1): 43-52.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10896-017-9933-4

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Youth in foster care have often been exposed to in-home violence and violence exposure is associated with higher mental health concerns. This study used multiple regression mediation analyses with bootstrapping to identify specific current foster caregiver-adolescent relationship factors and their mediating qualities between in-home violence exposure and adolescent internalizing, externalizing, and trauma symptoms. Using a national dataset of adolescents in foster care (n = 175), the results of this study suggested that an adolescent's perception of feeling emotionally secure in their relationship with their caregiver mediated the relationships between exposure to violence and youth internalizing, externalizing, and trauma symptoms. Additionally, current foster caregiver involvement and structure mediated the associations between exposure to violence and adolescent internalizing and externalizing outcomes, but not trauma symptoms. Further discussion of the results is included.

FINDINGS have important implications for mental health interventions aimed towards youth in foster care.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescents; Caregiver-child relationship; Family violence; Foster care; Mental health