Young children in foster care and the development of favorable outcomes

Young foster children have invariably faced a variety of risks that are strongly linked to long-term deficits in functioning across multiple developmental domains. Despite these risks, however, some children demonstrate more favorable outcomes and exhibit adaptation and the development of assets. In the present study, the relationship of early childhood factors (e.g., maltreatment history, placement history, parenting practices, environmental stress, developmental status, and attachment behavior) to the development of favorable outcomes in middle childhood was examined in a sample of foster children who had been in foster care in preschool (N = 35). Favorable outcomes were defined as demonstrations of emotion regulation and school adjustment during middle childhood. Developmental status (particularly attention and executive functioning) and a lack of environmental stress during early childhood foster care experiences had a significant positive relationship with the development of emotion regulation and school adjustment in middle childhood.

► We examine factors contributing to favorable outcomes in foster children.
► We examine the relationship of early childhood variables to later outcomes.
► Favorable outcomes were defined as emotion regulation and school adjustment.
► Attention/executive functioning was strongly related to favorable outcomes.
► Lack of early environmental stress was strongly related to favorable outcomes.