Emotional intelligence and coping with stress in foster parents

Aleksandra Maria Rogowska

Instytut Psychologii
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4621-8916

Barbara Zmaczyńska-Witek

Uniwersytet Opolski, Instytut Psychologii
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5472-2576

Ilona Łatka

Wojewódzki Szpital Neuropsychiatryczny w Lublińcu, Oddział dla Dzieci i Młodzieży

Zofia Kardasz

Uniwersytet Opolski, Instytut Psychologii
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4339-4065

Abstract

Although much research on emotional intelligence (EI) and coping with stress has been performed in recent years, little is known about these dimensions of individual differences in both foster and biological parents. The main purpose of this study is to examine emotional intelligence and coping styles in foster parents in comparison to biological parents. The study included 124 individual participants aged between 30 and 64 years old (M = 45.18, SD = 8.72), including foster parents (n = 63, 50.81%) and biological parents (n = 61, 49.19%). The cross-sectional survey study was conducted using the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT) and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). In comparison to biological parents, foster parents demonstrated significantly higher levels of emotional intelligence (EI), more frequently used task-oriented coping styles, and less often pursued emotional and avoidant coping strategies to deal with stress. EI was positively correlated with task-oriented coping and negatively so with emotional coping. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that EI was a strong predictor of task-oriented coping. Training focused on the enhancement of both EI and coping with stress should be considered as an effective way to improve parents’ competence.

Keywords:

emotional intelligence;, coping styles, foster care, foster parents, biological perents

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Published
2022-01-09

Cited by

Rogowska, A. M., Zmaczyńska-Witek, B., Łatka, I., & Kardasz, Z. (2022). Emotional intelligence and coping with stress in foster parents. Family Forum, 11, 165–190. https://doi.org/10.25167/FF/4504

Authors

Aleksandra Maria Rogowska 
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4621-8916

Authors

Barbara Zmaczyńska-Witek 
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5472-2576

Authors

Ilona Łatka 

Authors

Zofia Kardasz 
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4339-4065

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