Foster care research: From description to adaptation and development processes

Abstract

The current paper is a review of some research lines on foster care in which we need a greater knowledge, particularly in Spain. If we want foster care to be better adjusted to children needs, it is essential to move beyond descriptive studies to tackle processes and mechanisms that lead to a better adjustment. This article reviews some of these relevant areas for children development that are still scarcely studied in foster care, in line with a current research project by the authors. The areas reviewed are self-regulation, mental representations of attachment, mental health and the foster family as a context for recovery. In each area, it’s emphasized its relevance for foster care, and the major studies are reviewed. The article ends with some conclusions derived from the literature review.