Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Adolescent Mothers in Foster Care: Relational Ethics, Depressive Symptoms and Health Problems Through a Contextual Therapy Lens

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Contemporary Family Therapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This is the first study that provides empirical support for the importance of contextual theory notions of relational ethics for the well-being of adolescent mothers in the foster care system. Data came from a sample of 42 adolescent mothers in kinship and non-kinship foster families and included self-reports on the Relational Ethics Scale. As it was hypothesized, adolescent mothers in kinship placement reported a significantly higher degree of relational ethics (perception of trust, fairness and loyalty) in their foster family and lower levels of depressive symptoms than adolescent mothers in non-kinship placement. Regardless of the placement type, family relational ethics correlated negatively with a level of depressive and physical health symptoms. Findings support an idea that relational ethics may be particularly relevant to clinical work with adolescents in the foster care system because the duality of having biological and foster families may create feelings of injustice and split loyalty.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Hargrave, T. D., & Pfitzer, F. (2003). The new contextual therapy: Guiding the power of give and take. New York: Brunner-Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aparicio, E. M. (2017). ‘I want to be better than you:’ Lived experiences of intergenerational child maltreatment prevention among teenage mothers in and beyond foster care. Child and Family Social Work, 22, 607–616. doi:10.1111/cfs.12274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baginsky, B. A. (2009). Prevention of depression in postpartum adolescents. Journal of Student Nursing Research, 2(1), 10–14. Retrieved from http://repository.upenn.edu/josnr/vol2/iss1/1/.

  • Boszormenyi-Nagy, I., & Krasner, B. (1986). Between give and take: A clinical guide to contextual therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boszormenyi-Nagy, I., & Spark, G. M. (1973). Invisible loyalties: Reciprocity in intergenerational family therapy. Maryland: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, J. D., Harris, S. K., Woods, E. R., Buman, M. P., & Cox, J. E. (2012). Longitudinal study of depressive symptoms and social support in adolescent mothers. Maternal Child Health Journal, 16, 894–901. doi:10.1007/s10995-011-0814-9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carleton, R. N., Thibodeau, M. A., Teale, M. N., Welch, P. G., Abrams, M. P., Robinson, T., & Asmundson, G. G. (2013). The center for epidemiologic studies depression scale: A review with a theoretical and empirical examination of item content and factor structure. Plos ONE, 8(3), 1–11. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0058067.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Connolly, M. (2003). Kinship care: A selected literature review. New Zealand: Submitted to the Department of Child, Youth and Family. Retrieved from http://www.cyf.govt.nz/documents/about-us/publications/social-work-now/kinship-care.pdf.

  • Conway, T. & Hutson, R. Q. (2007). Is kinship care good for kids? Retrieved from http://www.clasp.org/resources-and-publications/files/0347.pdf.

  • Cupples, M. E., Irvine, H., Bradley, T., Boohan, N., Reilly, P., & Patterson, C. (1998). Teenage mothers and their peers: A research challenge. British Journal of General Practice, 48, 1685–1686.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • DeGenna, N. M., Larkby, C., & Cornelius, M. D. (2011). Pubertal timing and early sexual intercourse in the offspring of teenage mothers. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40(10), 1315–1328. doi:10.1007/s10964-010-9609-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, G., Siqueland, L., & Diamond, G. (2003). Attachment-based family therapy for depressed adolescents: Programmatic treatment development. Clinical Family and Child Psychology Review, 6(2), 107–127. doi:10.1023/A:1023782510786.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dixon, L., Browne, K., & Hamilton-Giachritsis, C. (2009). Risk factors of parents abused as children: A meditational analysis of the intergenerational continuity of child maltreatment. Journal of Family Violence, 24(2), 111–122. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2004.00339.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ducommun-Nagy, C. (2002). Contextual therapy. In Comprehensive Handbook of Psychotherapy, Volume 3: Interpersonal/Humanistic/Existential (4th edn., pp. 463–488). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emihovich, C., & Fromme, R. E. (1998). Reframing teen parenting: Cultural and social contexts. Education and Urban Society, 30(2), 139–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Field, A. (2005). Discovering Statistics Using SPSS (2nd Ed.). London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Font, S. (2015). Are children safer with kin? A comparison of maltreatment risks in out-of-home care. Children and Youth Services Review, 54, 20–29. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2015.04.012.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Fosse, N. E., & Haas, S. A. (2009). Validity and stability of self-reported health among adolescents in a longitudinal, nationally representative survey. Pediatrics, 123(3), 496–501. doi:10.1542/peds.2008-1552.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gangamma, R., Bartle-Haring, S., & Glebova, T. (2012). A study of contextual therapy theory’s relational ethics in couples in therapy. Family Relations, 61, 825–835. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2012.00732.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gangamma, R., Bartle-Haring, S., Holowacz, E., Hartwell, E. E., & Glebova, T. (2015). Relational ethics, depressive symptoms, and relationship satisfaction in couples in therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 41(3), 354–366. doi:10.1111/jmft.12070.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Geiger, J. M., & Schelbe, L. A. (2014). Stopping the cycle of child abuse and neglect: A call to action to focus on pregnant and parenting youth in and aging out of foster care system. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 8, 25–50. doi:10.1080/15548732.2013.824398.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goodman, S. H. (2007). Depression in mothers. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 3, 107–135. doi:10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.3.022806.091401/midss.195.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grames, H., Miller, R. B., Robinson, W. D., Higgins, D. J., & Hinton, W. J. (2008). A test of contextual theory: The relationship among relational ethics, marital satisfaction, health problems, and depression. Contemporary Family Therapy, 30, 183–198. doi:10.1007/s10591-008-9073-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hargrave, T. D., & Bomba, A. K. (1993). Further validation of the Relational Ethics Scale. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 19, 292–299. doi:10.1111/j.17520606.1993.tb00990.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hargrave, T. D., Jennings, G., & Anderson, W. T. (1991). The development of a relational ethics scale. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 17, 311–320. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.1991.tb00877.x.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodgkinson, S. C., Colantuoni, E., Roberts, D., Berg-Cross, L., & Belcher, M. E. (2010). Depressive symptoms and birth outcomes among pregnant teenagers. Journal of Pediatric Adolescent Gynecology, 23(1), 16–22. doi:10.1016/j.jpag.2009.04.006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson-Garner, M. Y., & Myers, S. A. (2003). What factors contribute to the resilience of African American children with kinship care? Child and Youth Care Forum, 32, 255. doi:10.1023/A:1025883726991.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keller, T. E., Salazar, A. M., & Courtney, M. E. (2010). Prevalence and timing of diagnosable mental health, alcohol, and substance use problems among older adolescents in the child welfare system. Children and Youth Services Review, 32(4), 626–634. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2009.12.010.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kiraly, M., & Humphreys, C. (2013). Family contact for children in kinship care: A literature review. Australian Social Work, 66(3), 358–374. doi:10.1080/0312407X.2013.812129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krasner, B. R., & Joyce, A. J. (1995). Truth, trust, and relationships: Healing interventions in contextual therapy. New York, NY: Brunner/Mazel Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kunce, M., & Anderson, A. L. (2002). A natural rate of suicide for the U.S., revisited. Omega, 44, 215–222. doi:10.2190/B5TP-BAXF-T0TJ-FFW7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leathers, S. J. (2003). Parental visiting, conflicting allegiances, and emotional and behavioral problems among foster children. Family Relations, 63, 52–53. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2003.00053.x.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, R. E., & Linch, M. T. (1998). Combating foster care drift: An ecosystemic treatment model for neglect cases. Journal of Contemporary Family Therapy, 20, 351–370.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leibig, A. L., & Green, K. (1999). The development of family loyalty and relational ethics in children. Journal of Contemporary Family Therapy, 21, 89–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manlove, J., Welti, K., McCoy-Roth, M., Berger, A., & Malm, K. (2011). Teen parents in foster care: Risk factors and outcomes for teens and their children. Child Trends. Retrieved from http://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Child_Trends-2011_11_01_RB_TeenParentsFC.pdf.

  • McLeod, G. F., Horwood, L. J., & Fergusson, D. M. (2016). Adolescent depression, adult mental health and psychosocial outcomes at 30 and 35 years. Psychology Medicine, 46(7), 1401–1412. doi:10.1017/S0033291715002950.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McWey, L. M., Acock, A., & Porter, B. E. (2010). The impact of continued contact with biological parents upon the mental health of children in foster care. Children and Youth Services Review, 32(10), 1338–1345. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2010.05.003.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • McWey, L. M.. Pazdera, A. L.. Vennum, A., & Wojciak, A. S. (2013). Intergenerational patterns of maltreatment in families at risk for foster care. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 39(2), 133–147. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2012.00289.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pecora, P. J., Jensen, P. S., Romanelli, L. H., Jackson, L. J., & Ortiz, A. (2009). Mental health services for children placed in foster care: An overview of current challenges. Child Welfare, 88, 5–26.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pryce, J. M., & Samuels, G. M. (2010). Renewal and risk: The dual experience of young motherhood and aging out of the child welfare system. Journal of Adolescent Research, 25, 205–230. doi:10.1177/0743558409350500.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Radloff, L. S. (1977). The CES-D scale: A self report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385–401. doi:10.1177/014662167700100306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sakai, C., Lin, H., & Flores, G. (2011). Health outcomes and family services in kinship care: Analysis of a national sample of children in the child welfare system. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 165, 159–165. doi:10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.277.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sandberg, J. G., Miller, R. B., Harper, J. H., Robila, M., & Davey, A. (2009). The relationship among marital quality, health, and health care utilization in older couples. Journal of Health Psychology, 14, 9–17. doi:10.1177/1359105308097938.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schelbe, L., & Geiger, J. M. (2017). Stopping the cycle of child abuse and neglect: A call to action to focus on pregnant and parenting youth in and aging out of the foster care system. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 8(1), 25–50. doi:10.1080/15548732.2013.824398.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, S. B., Brice, C. S., Ale, C. M., & Morris, T. L. (2011). Examining depression, anxiety, and foster care placement as predictors of substance use and sexual activity in adolescents. Journal of Social Service Research, 37, 1–16. doi:10.1080/01488376.2011.608338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Svoboda, D. V., Shaw, T. V., Barth, R. P., & Bright, C. L. (2012). Pregnancy and parenting among youth in foster care: A review. Children and Youth Services Review, 34, 867–875. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth201201.023.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2015). Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) FY 2014 data. Retrieved from: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb.

  • Woods, S., Farineau, H., & McWey, L. M. (2012). Physical health, mental health, and behavior problems among early adolescents in foster care. Child: Care, Health and Development, 39, 220–227. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01357.x.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Inez Whitlow and Gloria Benevides of Chicks in Crisis. We would also like to thank Laura Davis, the research assistant who helped to collect the data.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Couple and Family Therapy Program, Alliant International University, Sacramento, CA, USA

    Katherine L. Wilson, Tatiana Glebova, Sean Davis & Gita Seshadri

  2. P.O. Box 8803, Citrus Heights, CA, 95621, USA

    Katherine L. Wilson

Authors
  1. Katherine L. Wilson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tatiana Glebova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sean Davis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Gita Seshadri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katherine L. Wilson.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wilson, K.L., Glebova, T., Davis, S. et al. Adolescent Mothers in Foster Care: Relational Ethics, Depressive Symptoms and Health Problems Through a Contextual Therapy Lens. Contemp Fam Ther 39, 150–161 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-017-9417-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-017-9417-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation