'Caring for children who have experienced trauma' – an evaluation of a training for foster parents. Issue 1 (31st December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Konijn, Carolien; Colonnesi, Cristina; Kroneman, Leoniek; Liefferink, Noortje; Lindauer, Ramón J. L.; Stams, Geert-Jan J. M.
• Is Part Of: European journal of psychotraumatology. Volume 11:Issue 1(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-12-31
• Subjects: Foster care -- training -- trauma -- knowledge -- parenting stress -- mind-mindedness -- problem behaviour -- post-traumatic symptoms; Cuidado de acogida -- taller -- trauma -- conocimiento -- estrés parental -- mente mentalizante -- problemas conductuales -- síntomas postraumáticos; 寄养关怀 -- 工作坊 -- 创伤 -- 知识 -- 养育压力 -- 将心比心 -- 问题行为 -- 创伤后症状; 48 Foster parents followed the training Caring for Children who Have Experienced Trauma and participated in the study. -- Their knowledge of trauma and positive mental representation of the foster child improved. -- Child's PTSS decreased. -- More children received treatment.; Post-traumatic stress disorder -- Periodicals; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 616.8521
• DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2020.1756563
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2000-8198

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: Foster children, mostly maltreated in their birth families, may be fostered by parents who know little about the impact of traumatic experiences. Objective: The present study investigated whether the training Caring for Children who Have Experienced Trauma for foster parents can break the negative circle of traumatic stress. The hypothesis was that improvement in parents' knowledge on trauma and mind-mindedness would be associated with a reduction of their parenting stress, children's post-traumatic stress symptoms, and behaviour problems. Method: Forty-eight foster parents ( n female = 35) participated in a pre-test (T1), post-test (T2), and follow-up (T3) assessment. Questionnaires on knowledge on trauma, parenting stress, child post-traumatic stress symptoms, the child's behaviour, and the evaluation of the training were administered. Parents' mind-mindedness was assessed using the describe-your-child interview. Results: Foster parents highly appreciated the training, their knowledge on child trauma increased at T2 and this growth persisted at T3. The parents who gained most knowledge experienced a small decrease in parenting stress at T2. Although the general mind-mindedness did not significantly change, foster parents' mind-mindedness with positive valence substantially increased at T2 and T3, while their mind-mindedness with neutral valence decreased. Foster parents' report on child PTSS declined at T3 compared to T2, but not compared to T1. No changes were found in children's behaviour as reported by the foster parents. The proportion of foster children receiving trauma-focused treatment increased at T2 and T3. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that training in trauma-informed parenting can be effective in improving foster parents' knowledge on the impact of traumatic experiences and in increasing a positive mental representation of their foster child as well as in reducing children's post-traumatic symptoms.