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Download fileFamily Functioning, Parenting Style, and Child Behavior in Kin Foster Care
journal contribution
posted on 03.12.2013, 00:00 authored by Reginald C. Richardson, James P. GleesonFace-to-face interviews with 120 predominantly African American kin caregivers of children in the child welfare
system revealed significant associations between family functioning and child behavior problems. Caregivers who
reported healthier family functioning tended to report lower levels of behavior problems by the children in their care.
Healthier family functioning related to roles and affective involvement were associated with lower levels of child
behavior problems, but, surprisingly, less healthy family functioning related to behavior control was also associated
with lower levels of child behavior problems. Caregiver ratings of their parenting styles were related to family functioning
but not to their ratings of the child’s behavioral functioning. Results of this study suggest several implications
for child welfare practice and future research.