What do we know about the impact of stress on foster carers and contributing factors?

Journal article


Adams, E., Hassett, A. and Lumsden, V. 2018. What do we know about the impact of stress on foster carers and contributing factors? Adoption and Fostering. 42 (4), pp. 338-353. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308575918799956
AuthorsAdams, E., Hassett, A. and Lumsden, V.
Abstract

Whilst there are increasing numbers of children in foster care, there are decreasing numbers of foster carers. Research has highlighted the many challenges that foster carers face in caring for children who have experienced adversity.

This review synthesises and evaluates the current empirical literature with the aim of exploring the causes and consequences of stress experienced by foster carers and what factors serve to lessen or increase this. PsychINFO, ASSIA, Web of Science and Google Scholar were searched for relevant studies, which were chosen for review based on specific inclusion criteria. This search identified 15 papers. Factors identified as contributing to stress included managing the impact of wider systems, such as social services and the foster carer’s family, as well as the impact of individual factors such as the child’s behaviour. Consequences of stress included a direct impact on foster carer retention. Methodological issues identified related to sampling, research design and cultural variability.

Future research could usefully include the perspectives of people in the system around foster carers, including social workers and the birth children of foster carers. Clinical implications include the promotion and provision of training and support, and the development of integrated ways of working with services and foster carers’ families.

KeywordsFoster care; foster carer; stress; literature review; looked after children
Year2018
JournalAdoption and Fostering
Journal citation42 (4), pp. 338-353
PublisherSAGE
ISSN0308-5759
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/0308575918799956
Publication dates
Online11 Dec 2018
Publication process dates
Deposited08 Jan 2019
Accepted2018
Accepted author manuscript
Output statusPublished
Permalink -

https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/88y30/what-do-we-know-about-the-impact-of-stress-on-foster-carers-and-contributing-factors

Download files

  • 212
    total views
  • 571
    total downloads
  • 5
    views this month
  • 1
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

It’s why you get up in the morning’. A Straussian grounded theory study of coping in police officers who investigate rape and child abuse
Foley, J., Hassett, Alex and Williams, Emma 2024. It’s why you get up in the morning’. A Straussian grounded theory study of coping in police officers who investigate rape and child abuse. The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258x241228491
‘Holding onto trauma?’ The prevalence and predictors of PTSD, anxiety, and depression in police officers working with victims of child abuse, rape, and sexual exploitation
Foley, J., Jones, F., Hassett, A. and Williams, E. 2023. ‘Holding onto trauma?’ The prevalence and predictors of PTSD, anxiety, and depression in police officers working with victims of child abuse, rape, and sexual exploitation. The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X231183638
Foster caring as ‘professional parenting’: A grounded theory of the relationships between parent and professional in long-term foster care
Hassett, A., Hollett, M. and Lumsden, V. 2022. Foster caring as ‘professional parenting’: A grounded theory of the relationships between parent and professional in long-term foster care. Adoption and Fostering. 46 (4), p. 413–436. https://doi.org/10.1177/03085759221139490
Health visitors' experiences talking about difficulties with the parent–infant relationship
Kouvaras, Stef, Hassett, Alex and Lumsden, Virginia 2022. Health visitors' experiences talking about difficulties with the parent–infant relationship. Journal of Health Visiting. 10 (7), pp. 292-302. https://doi.org/10.12968/johv.2022.10.7.292
Exploring online social support groups, part 2
Hassett, A., Wagg, A. and Callanan, M. 2022. Exploring online social support groups, part 2. 13 (1). https://doi.org/10.1891/CL.2021-0014
Exploring online breastfeeding support groups, part 1 of 2: Finding a community of like-minded people helps a mother to reach her breastfeeding goals
Hassett, A., Wagg, A. and Callanan, M. 2021. Exploring online breastfeeding support groups, part 1 of 2: Finding a community of like-minded people helps a mother to reach her breastfeeding goals. Clinical Lactation. 12 (4). https://doi.org/10.1891/cl.12.4
"He's still There": How Facebook facilitates continuing bonds with the deceased
Akinyemi, C. and Hassett, Alex 2021. "He's still There": How Facebook facilitates continuing bonds with the deceased. OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228211048672
Clinical supervision in CBT training: what do participants view as effective?
Kelly, N. and Hassett, A. 2021. Clinical supervision in CBT training: what do participants view as effective? The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist. 14 (27). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1754470X21000222
‘Getting on with the job’: A systematised literature review of secondary trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in policing within the United Kingdom (UK)
Foley, J., Hassett, Alex and Williams, Emma 2021. ‘Getting on with the job’: A systematised literature review of secondary trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in policing within the United Kingdom (UK). The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles. 95 (1), pp. 224-252. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258x21990412
More than meets the eye: How black and minority ethnic care-leavers construct and make sense of their identity
Lensvelt, I., Hassett, A and Colbridge, A 2021. More than meets the eye: How black and minority ethnic care-leavers construct and make sense of their identity. Adolescents. 1 (36-53). https://doi.org/10.3390/adolescents1010004
“It’s more than milk, it’s mental health”: A case of online human milk sharing
Wagg, A., Hassett, Alex and Callanan, Margie 2020. “It’s more than milk, it’s mental health”: A case of online human milk sharing. International Breastfeeding Journal. 17 (1), p. 5. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-96628/v1
Trauma recovery core capabilities for the children’s workforce in the United Kingdom: A Q-methodology study
Hassett, A. and Strohmaier, S. 2020. Trauma recovery core capabilities for the children’s workforce in the United Kingdom: A Q-methodology study. Journal of Family Trauma, Child Custody & Child Development . 17 (4), pp. 317-343. https://doi.org/10.1080/26904586.2020.1826026
Grieving in the workplace: How do grieving employees perceive their experience of workplace support from management?
Flux, L., Hassett, A. and Callanan, M. 2020. Grieving in the workplace: How do grieving employees perceive their experience of workplace support from management? Policy and Practice in Health and Safety. 18 (2), pp. 186-195. https://doi.org/10.1080/14773996.2020.1796084
How employers respond to employees who return to the workplace after experiencing the death of a loved one? A review of the literature
Flux, L., Hassett, A. and Callanan, M. 2019. How employers respond to employees who return to the workplace after experiencing the death of a loved one? A review of the literature. Policy and Practice in Health and Safety. https://doi.org/10.1080/14773996.2019.1590764
Service user involvement in cognitive behavioural therapy training; an interpretive phenomenological analysis
Garwood, P. and Hassett, A. 2019. Service user involvement in cognitive behavioural therapy training; an interpretive phenomenological analysis. Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-02-2018-0014
Online social support group use by breastfeeding mothers: a content analysis
Wagg, A., Callanan, M. and Hassett, A. 2019. Online social support group use by breastfeeding mothers: a content analysis. Heliyon. 5 (3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01245
“They needed the attention more than I did”: How do the birth children of foster carers experience the relationship with their parents?
Hassett, A., Adams, E. and Lumsden, V. 2019. “They needed the attention more than I did”: How do the birth children of foster carers experience the relationship with their parents?
‘Who am I?’ How female care-leavers construct and make sense of their identity.
Hassett, A. and Colbridge, A. 2019. ‘Who am I?’ How female care-leavers construct and make sense of their identity.
Supervision on the frontline
Guindi, A., Hassett, A. and Callanan, M. 2019. Supervision on the frontline. 92 (9), pp. 45-47.
Parental involvement: a grounded theory of the role of parents in adolescent help seeking for mental health problems
Green, C., Hassett, A. and Zundel, T. 2018. Parental involvement: a grounded theory of the role of parents in adolescent help seeking for mental health problems. SAGE Open. 8 (4). https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244018807786
“They needed the attention more than I did”: how do the birth children of foster carers experience the relationship with their parents?
Adams, E., Hassett, A. and Lumsden, V. 2018. “They needed the attention more than I did”: how do the birth children of foster carers experience the relationship with their parents? Adoption and Fostering. 42 (2), pp. 135-150. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308575918773683
The use of computer mediated communication in providing patient support: a review of the research literature
Wagg, A., Callanan, M. and Hassett, A. 2018. The use of computer mediated communication in providing patient support: a review of the research literature. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 82, pp. 68-78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2018.03.010
Youth offending teams: a grounded theory of the barriers and facilitators to young people seeking help from mental health services
Hassett, A. and Lane, C. 2018. Youth offending teams: a grounded theory of the barriers and facilitators to young people seeking help from mental health services. Global Journal of Human-Social Science Research. 18 (2).
Young men’s experiences of accessing and receiving help from child and adolescent mental health services following self-harm
Hassett, A. and Isbister, C. 2017. Young men’s experiences of accessing and receiving help from child and adolescent mental health services following self-harm. SAGE Open. 7 (4). https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244017745112
‘Who am I?’ How female care-leavers construct and make sense of their identity
Hassett, A. and Colbridge, A. 2017. ‘Who am I?’ How female care-leavers construct and make sense of their identity.
Experiences of engaging with mental health services in 16-18 year olds: An interpretative phenomenological analysis
Hassett, A. and Jones, S. 2017. Experiences of engaging with mental health services in 16-18 year olds: An interpretative phenomenological analysis.
Experiences of engaging with mental health services in 16- to 18-year-olds: an interpretative phenomenological analysis
Jones, S., Hassett, A. and Sclare, I. 2017. Experiences of engaging with mental health services in 16- to 18-year-olds: an interpretative phenomenological analysis. SAGE Open. 7 (3). https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244017719113
PhD in professional practice: psychological perspectives
Hassett, A. 2017. PhD in professional practice: psychological perspectives.
Experiences of engaging in mental health services in 16-18 year olds: an interpretative phenomenological analysis
Jones, S., Hassett, A. and Sclare, I. 2016. Experiences of engaging in mental health services in 16-18 year olds: an interpretative phenomenological analysis.
Young men’s experiences of accessing and receiving help from child and adolescent mental health services following self-harm
Hassett, A. and Isbister, C. 2014. Young men’s experiences of accessing and receiving help from child and adolescent mental health services following self-harm.
The importance of measuring outcomes related to looked after young people’s emotional wellbeing and mental health
Hassett, A. and Neal, A. 2011. The importance of measuring outcomes related to looked after young people’s emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Solihull Approach training in Solihull and Kent- working together to implement The Solihull Approach through a cascade model
Hassett, A. and Rheeston, M. 2011. Solihull Approach training in Solihull and Kent- working together to implement The Solihull Approach through a cascade model.
Exploring how parents make sense of change in parent-child psychotherapy
Kenny, M., Hassett, A. and Pae, L. 2016. Exploring how parents make sense of change in parent-child psychotherapy.
CAMHS Information Project: a resource kit for outcomes measurement in Kent Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
Neal, A. and Hassett, A. 2011. CAMHS Information Project: a resource kit for outcomes measurement in Kent Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
‘Who am I?’ How female care-leavers construct and make sense of their identity
Colbridge, A., Hassett, A. and Sisley, E. 2017. ‘Who am I?’ How female care-leavers construct and make sense of their identity. SAGE Open. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244016684913
Brain development and impact of trauma and stress on children
Hassett, A. 2016. Brain development and impact of trauma and stress on children.
Domains pilot: Kent County Council HeadStart Project. Case studies in promoting resilience in vulnerable children
Hassett, A. and Kerr, M. 2016. Domains pilot: Kent County Council HeadStart Project. Case studies in promoting resilience in vulnerable children.
What have we learnt? Where are we going? HeadStart Kent, Knowledge Seminar Four Report
Hassett, A. and Kerr, M. 2015. What have we learnt? Where are we going? HeadStart Kent, Knowledge Seminar Four Report.
Evidence based approaches: what is happening in Kent. HeadStart Kent, Knowledge Seminar Three Report
Hassett, A. and Kerr, M. 2015. Evidence based approaches: what is happening in Kent. HeadStart Kent, Knowledge Seminar Three Report.
Measuring outcomes: HeadStart Kent, Knowledge Seminar Two Report
Hassett, A. and Kerr, M. 2015. Measuring outcomes: HeadStart Kent, Knowledge Seminar Two Report.
Conceptualising resilience: the beginning of the definition and understanding for Kent. HeadStart Kent, Knowledge Seminar Report
Hassett, A. and Kerr, M. 2014. Conceptualising resilience: the beginning of the definition and understanding for Kent. HeadStart Kent, Knowledge Seminar Report.
Evaluation of the Solihull Approach in Kent: drawing conclusions from the data
Hassett, A. 2015. Evaluation of the Solihull Approach in Kent: drawing conclusions from the data.
Understanding your pupil’s behaviour: a pilot study from two primary schools in Kent
Hassett, A. and Appleton, R. 2016. Understanding your pupil’s behaviour: a pilot study from two primary schools in Kent.
Exploring how parents make sense of change in parent-child psychotherapy
Kenny, M., Hassett, A. and Pae, L. 2017. Exploring how parents make sense of change in parent-child psychotherapy. Journal of Infant, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy. 16 (1), pp. 73-92. https://doi.org/10.1080/15289168.2016.1248200
The Solihull approach: understanding your pupils' behaviour: a pilot study in four primary schools
Hassett, A. 2014. The Solihull approach: understanding your pupils' behaviour: a pilot study in four primary schools.
Exploring the impact of the Solihull Approach Understanding Your Pupils Behaviour on a range of teacher variables and on their perceptions of their work with young people
Hassett, A. 2015. Exploring the impact of the Solihull Approach Understanding Your Pupils Behaviour on a range of teacher variables and on their perceptions of their work with young people.
A preliminary report exploring the need for and development of a coherent Personal and Social Education curriculum
Maynard, T., Moss, J., Bowie, R. A., Christie, S., Bainbridge, A., Barnes, J., Blamires, M., Hassett, A., Powell, S., Robinson, S. and Canterbury Christ Church University 2013. A preliminary report exploring the need for and development of a coherent Personal and Social Education curriculum.
Supporting public health practitioners to support the emotional well-being of young people
Hassett, A. 2007. Supporting public health practitioners to support the emotional well-being of young people.