The Challenges and Resources of Adoptive and Long-Term Foster Parents of Children with Trauma Histories: A Mixed Methods Study

Abstract Adoption can be an important protective factor for foster children; however, if adoptive parents are not adequately prepared to deal with trauma-based difficulties, such children remain at risk for negative outcomes. The present study used mixed methods to access the lived experiences of parents adopting children from foster care. Results indicated that adopted children’s behavioral difficulties strongly contributed to parental stress. However, number of resources did not moderate the relation between child behavior problems and parenting stress, and parents reported that some "resources" promoted stress. Results have important implications for interventions with such parents.