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Cognitive Development and Social-Emotional Functioning in Young Foster Children: A Follow-up Study from 2 to 3 Years of Age

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Abstract

Foster children (FC) are at risk of delayed development relative to their peers due to early caregiver disruptions and adverse experiences prior to placement. Descriptive analyses and linear mixed effects (LME models) were used to analyse the cognitive development and social-emotional functioning of 60 FC and 42 comparison children (CC) at 2 (T1) and 3 years (T2). Changes in group differences between T1 and T2 were examined, and significant group differences occurred on all cognitive scales, with the FC obtaining lower scores than the CC. An analysis of social-emotional functioning revealed significantly more externalising, dysregulation behaviour and poorer competencies among the FC, which exhibited significantly better cognitive abilities and competencies at T2 than T1, with the exception of receptive language. The FC did not demonstrate more negative social-emotional behaviour at T2 (apart from more internalisation behaviour), but failed to catch up with the CC. Young foster children need screening and support to improve their developmental potential.

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Acknowledgments

This project has been financially supported by the National Network for Infant Mental Health, Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Eastern & Southern Norway; the Norwegian ExtraFoundation for Health and Rehabilitation through EXTRA funds, as well as funds from the Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion. This study was approved by the National Committees for Research Ethics and the Norwegian Social Science Data Services.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Network for Infant Mental Health, Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Eastern & Southern Norway, Oslo, Norway

    Heidi Jacobsen, Vibeke Moe & Lars Smith

  2. Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Eastern & Southern Norway, Oslo, Norway

    Tord Ivarsson & Tore Wentzel-Larsen

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Heidi Jacobsen, Vibeke Moe & Lars Smith

  4. Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Tord Ivarsson

  5. Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, Oslo, Norway

    Tore Wentzel-Larsen

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  1. Heidi Jacobsen
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  5. Lars Smith
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Correspondence to Heidi Jacobsen.

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Jacobsen, H., Moe, V., Ivarsson, T. et al. Cognitive Development and Social-Emotional Functioning in Young Foster Children: A Follow-up Study from 2 to 3 Years of Age. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 44, 666–677 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-013-0360-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-013-0360-3

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