CALIFORNIA: In the United States, children who have been placed in foster homes face higher health risks. A study published in 2016 found that children who have spent time in foster care are more likely to have health issues such as learning difficulties, obesity and depression than children who have not been in foster care.
Growing concerns around Child Mental Health Issues in Foster Care
In 2016 alone, as many as 700,000 young people in the United States were placed in foster care.
The research notes that children often stay in foster care for a year or more, and sometimes much longer.
Earlier studies have raised similar concerns and suggested many reasons why these children develop health issues.
These include abuse, neglect and other trauma that many children experience before and sometimes during their time in care.
Experts consider these difficult experiences to be an important factor in the mental health issues seen among many children in care, especially pre-teens and adolescents.
However, Kristin Turney, the lead researcher from the University of California, pointed out that no previous research had compared the health of children who had been in foster care with the health of children who had not.
Noting this, Turney and her team analysed data from the 2011 to 2012 National Survey of Children’s Health.
The survey covered more than 800,000 young people across the United States. Of these, around 2 percent had spent at least some time in the foster care system.
The researchers used regression models to compare physical and mental health issues in children who had been in foster care with those in children who had never spent time in foster homes.
They found that children who had been in foster care had a significantly greater risk of health problems. These children were twice as likely to have asthma, and were also more likely to be obese or have weight problems. There were also signs of a higher rate of hearing difficulties.
Children who had been in foster care also had a much greater risk of anxiety, and the researchers saw a clear need to better understand their mental health.
Behavioural issues were also more common, and were as much as five times more likely among young people who had spent time in foster care.
ADHD also played a significant role, and children were more prone to heightened ADHD symptoms. They were also more likely to have learning disabilities and developmental delays. Kristin Turney added,
This study expands our understanding of the mental and physical health of these highly vulnerable children, but we must take a closer look if we are to understand how foster care really affects child well-being.
The study aimed to raise awareness of the health needs of these often overlooked children, and it calls for a closer look at how experiences before and during foster care affect so many children.
I am Ash and I celebrate Neurodiversity! Growing up with an elder brother with severe Autism was tough – but it has also taught me essential life lessons. I don’t believe that people with Autism are necessarily or have any disorder (except in extreme cases). They are just different! And that is something to be proud of! I am passionate about helping other families who may have Autism conditions in their family. So please reach out and drop me a note. I will be glad to help 🙂
