Citation

Hiller R, Fraser A, Denne M, Bauer A, Halligan SL. Child Maltreat. 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/10775595211070765

PMID

35081783

Abstract

While we know there are high rates of mental health difficulties amongst young people in care (i.e., social welfare-involved children), there is limited evidence on the longitudinal development of these problems, particularly from when they enter the care system. Using the routinely collected carer-reported strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ), we explored internalising (emotional and peer) and externalising (conduct and hyperactivity) difficulties for 672 young people across their first three years in the UK care system (2-16yrs, 51% boys, 76% Caucasian). In all cases stable profiles (resilient or chronic) were most common, while changing profiles (recovery or delayed) were less common.

FINDINGS show that entry into the care system is not enough of an intervention to expect natural recovery from mental health difficulties. Number of placements and being separated from siblings were associated with greater difficulties. Implications for child welfare and mental health systems are discussed.

Language: en

Keywords

childhood maltreatment; Child protective services; externalizing; internalizing