Three studies were undertaken to explore foster parenting practices (parental nurturance, parent-youth conflict, and parent-youth shared activities) as predictors of psychosocial outcomes (pro-social behaviour, emotional disorder, conduct disorder, and indirect aggression) in youths aged 10-17 years and living in foster homes in Ontario from 2001-2004. The first study included cross-sectional hierarchical regression analyses using data collected from 367 foster youths in 2001-2002. The second study replicated cross-sectional analyses with data collected from 439 foster youths in 2002-2003. It also included a longitudinal investigation of 201 foster youth present for both years of the study, permitting a more thorough exploration of reciprocal causal mechanisms. The third study explored the added influence of a fourth parenting practice: parental monitoring, using data collected from 143 foster youths in 2002-2004. Statistical controls included demographic variables (foster youth gender and age) and contextual variables (length of time in foster placement, total number of youth in foster household). It was hypothesized that the same trends observed in broader parenting research would also apply within the context of foster families, and therefore that more frequent engagement in positive parenting practices would predict improved foster youth outcomes. Results for the three studies provided inconsistent support for the hypotheses. Parenting practices, as a set, accounted for a modest, statistically significant increment in the variance explained in several of the foster youth outcomes (and always in the direction expected). However, the predictive power of individual parenting practices varied, with parent-youth conflict serving as the most consistent predictor. Another predictor, parent-youth shared activities, was not significant in any of the regressions. Study limitations were discussed for each study, including the demand characteristics of the larger research project, the differing nature of the foster parent-foster youth relationship, and the potential role of other unaccounted-for moderators. Also, parenting practices were conceptualized as fluid, reciprocal processes, for which further research is needed to better operationalize and measure salient aspects. Despite limited findings, the thesis remains an important one in presenting one of the first looks at the impact of foster parenting at-risk youth in Ontario.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uottawa.ca/oai:ruor.uottawa.ca:10393/29588 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Perkins, Julie N |
| Publisher | University of Ottawa (Canada) |
| Source Sets | Université d’Ottawa |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 167 p. |
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