Foster Children: Risk Factors and Development at a Preschool Age

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Abstract
The objective of this study was to describe the family backgrounds, health and developmental characteristics of 127 children from disadvantaged and deprived environments who were adopted after the age of 4. They had below‐average IQ scores. A second aim was to analyse the origins of IQ variations and the effects of peri and post‐natal variables on behaviour problems. Parental psychosocial antecedents, medical and health problems, and difficulties in infancy were more frequent in this group than in the general population. Forty‐eight percent of the children had emotional and/or behavioural problems. Despite the retrospective aspect of this research, the results are consistent with other epidemiological and longitudinal studies. Some risk factors were greater for maltreated children:maternal alcoholism and mental retardation (p<0.01 and p<0.05), family problems (p<0.001). Peri‐ and neo‐natal risk factors (pregnancy and delivery complications: p<0.05, respiratory distress: p<0.01) were accompanied by significant decreases in IQ scores for the whole cohort. Cumulative health problems were also correlated with low IQs (p<0.05). After adjustment to account for confounding factors, the findings showed that late age of placement, neglect, and abuse increased emotional and/or behavioural problems in a statistically significant way. Families who adopt or take on foster children must be accurately informed of the history of the deprived child in order to set up early or rapid educational and psychological care.

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