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Adverse Childhood Experiences and Poor Mental Health Outcomes Among Racially Diverse Foster Care Alumni: Impact of Perceived Agency Helpfulness

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Abstract

The etiology of poor mental health outcomes among foster care alumni of color remains largely unknown. We examined the influence of a subset of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), placement instability, and childhood disability in uniquely predicting mental health outcomes among racially diverse foster care alumni from a private foster care agency. Multiple group path modeling was used to examine direct and indirect relationships between the individual level risk factors, mediators (perceived agency helpfulness), and past-year psychiatric disorder. Results showed that while the overall model was moderated by race/ethnicity, no significant group differences occurred in which ACEs increased the likelihood of psychiatric diagnoses. However, there were racial/ethnic differences in whether perceived agency helpfulness mediated the relationship between a subset of ACEs and diagnosis with a psychiatric disorder. Implications for future research to inform the development and implementation of effective services and supports that can promote positive developmental outcomes among racially diverse alumni are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Policy and Practice, University of Pennsylvania, 3701 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Antonio R. Garcia & Minseop Kim

  2. Casey Family Programs, Seattle, WA, USA

    Kirk O’Brien & Peter J. Pecora

  3. School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Tracy Harachi & Eugene Aisenberg

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  1. Antonio R. Garcia
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  2. Kirk O’Brien
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  3. Minseop Kim
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  4. Peter J. Pecora
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  5. Tracy Harachi
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  6. Eugene Aisenberg
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Correspondence to Antonio R. Garcia.

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Garcia, A.R., O’Brien, K., Kim, M. et al. Adverse Childhood Experiences and Poor Mental Health Outcomes Among Racially Diverse Foster Care Alumni: Impact of Perceived Agency Helpfulness. J Child Fam Stud 24, 3293–3305 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-015-0132-8

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