| Abstract | In the current study, the effects of foster children's emotional and behavioral problems on foster parents' psychological distress and mood problems are assessed in relation to research on attachment and mental representation in parent-child adoptive relationships (Steele et al., 2003a; Steele et al., 2003b). The Child Behavior Checklist, developed by Achenbach (1991), was used to assess the foster children's emotional and behavioral problems. The Profile of Mood States, developed by McNair, Lorr, and Droppleman (1971), was used to assess the foster parents' psychological distress and mood problems. Foster children and foster parents were paired and analyzed accordingly for correlational relationships. This correlational study was guided by three hypotheses. The first hypothesis speculated that relationships exist between the foster children's emotional and behavioral problems, as defined by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/6-18). The second hypothesis speculated that relationships exist between the foster parents' emotional distress and mood problems, as defined by the Profile of Mood States (POMS). The third and final hypothesis speculated that foster children's emotional and behavioral problems, as defined by the CBCL/6-18, show a relationship with their foster parents' emotional distress and mood problems, as defined by the POMS. Through this study, several strong, positive correlations were found between CBCL/6-18 constructs. Therefore, the first hypothesis was strongly supported. However, no fairly significant correlations were found between POMS subscales. Consequently, the second hypothesis was not fully supported. Lastly, no significant correlations were found between CBCL/6-18 constructs and composites and POMS subscales and the distress composite. As a result, the third hypothesis was not supported by the results of the current study. However, presumptions can be made concerning possible reasons for the lack of support for the third hypothesis. With these presumptions taken into consideration, future studies can expand on the premises explored in the current study. |
