@article{ref1,
title="Fostering self‐esteem: exploring adult recollections on the influence of foster parents",
journal="Child and family social work",
year="2008",
author="Luke, Nikki and Coyne, Sarah M.",
volume="13",
number="4",
pages="402-410",
abstract="Foster parents are in a unique position to improve the self-esteem of children in their care, which may be lower than that of their non-fostered peers. According to Harter's dual-influence model, both general support or attachment and domain-specific support contribute to self-esteem. The current study used this model to explore the ways in which foster parents had influenced the self-esteem of a sample of five adults with differing foster care experiences. Retrospective interviews were used to gather memories of high self-esteem from time spent in foster care. A thematic analysis of the interview transcripts supported Harter's model, and provided a number of examples of ways in which foster parents could boost children's self-esteem. The model was further extended to show the importance of ‘normality’ and inclusion for this sample of fostered adults. Further research on this topic is recommended with a view to widening the scope of foster carer training beyond attachment theory.<p />",
language="",
issn="1356-7500",
doi="10.1111/j.1365-2206.2008.00565.x",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2206.2008.00565.x"
}