Foster parents’ history of adverse childhood experiences, adult attachment, and parenting stress

• Published in: Children and youth services review 2023-07, Vol.150, p.107005, Article 107005
• Main Authors: Reisz, Samantha, Aviles, Ashleigh I., Adkins, Tina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACEs; Adult attachment; Foster parents; Parenting stress
• ISSN: 0190-7409; 1873-7765
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107005

•Foster parents’ adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) related to adult attachment anxiety and avoidance.•Foster parents’ number of ACEs related to attachment avoidance. Emotional abuse related to attachment anxiety.•Foster parents’ ACEs related to higher levels of parenting stress. Parental distress related to sexual abuse.•Foster parents’ attachment anxiety related to parental distress and defensive responding. Connections between parents’ trauma histories, adult attachment, and parenting stress are well established; those who have experienced trauma are more likely to have higher levels of insecure attachment (Jacobvitz & Reisz, 2019) and are more vulnerable to parenting stress (Steele et al., 2016) These processes in foster parents are understudied, even though they care for vulnerable children. This study examined relations between foster parents adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), adult attachment, and parenting stress. This is important to address because foster parents care for vulnerable children who can present unique stressors to caregivers. Examine links between ACEs, adult attachment, and parenting stress in foster parents. Participants were 55 foster parents from central Texas, US, recruited from a larger RCT study. Participants completed the ACEs questionnaire, Experiences in Close Relationships questionnaire, and Parenting Stress Inventory. Foster parents who reported higher total ACEs were more likely to report higher levels of attachment avoidance and higher levels of overall parenting stress. Foster parents who reported experiencing childhood emotional abuse reported higher levels of attachment anxiety. Those who reported experiencing childhood sexual abuse reported higher levels of parental distress. Lastly, those who reported higher levels of attachment anxiety reported higher levels of parental distress and defensive responding. ACEs are an important factor for foster parents, particularly for parenting stress. It is crucial that appropriate support is provided to help foster parents manage parenting stress and provide optimal care for their foster children.