Parent–child contact during placement and mental health: A meta-analysis

Objective

This meta-analysis aimed to synthesize research findings on the association between contact with biological parents and mental health in the context of out-of-home care.

Background

Although contact with biological parents is the primary intervention for maintaining the relationship with placed children, the consequences on child mental health are still unknown.

Method

Six electronic databases were searched for published and unpublished studies and dissertations.

Results

Twenty studies comprising 96 effect sizes (N = 5,276) were included. Findings from a three-level random effects meta-analysis revealed that the combined effect of contact with biological parents on mental health was not significant (k = 20, u = 96, r = .02). Moderation analyses revealed weaker effect sizes in samples with greater proportions of children who were physically abused or placed in nonrelative foster care. Conversely, parental visitation was more strongly associated with mental health outcomes in samples in which frequency of contact was at least weekly.

Conclusion

Regular parental visitation (at least weekly) is associated with better mental health outcomes. However, the benefits of parental visitation are reduced among physically abused children and those placed in nonrelative foster care.

Implications

Moderator analyses suggest that considering parental visitation to be beneficial for children is an oversimplification. Instead, child welfare services should prioritize examination of factors associated with positive parent–child contact for optimal visitation measures.