The Impact of Emotional and Behavioural Problems on the Lives of Children Growing up in the Care System

Abstract

Gerard McCarthy, Janet Janeway and Angus Geddes investigate the way in which the lives of looked after children and their carers are affected by the emotional and behavioural problems that these children and young people often experience. Starting from a sample of 115 children looked after by one English local authority, their study assessed the level of social impairment and distress experienced by looked after children with behavioural disorders. It also examined the duration of these difficulties and the impact of these problems on the carers. The carers, who completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (n = 70), reported very high levels of social impairment in the areas of home life, peer relationships and learning. Fifty-nine per cent of looked after children had an overall impact score of 2 or more, thus indicating the presence of a child psychiatric disorder. Forty per cent had significant problems in three or more key areas of their lives: home, learning, peers and leisure. Where significant problems were identified by carers, 65 per cent reported that the problems had existed for over a year. Almost half the sample revealed that the children's problems were imposing a significant burden on families or other carers, and the level of conduct problems reported was found to be a significant predictor of whether a carer expressed feeling burdened. Some clinical and service implications are discussed.