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.

Schlagworte:

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

Armsden, G. et al. (2000) ‘Children Placed in Long-Term Foster Care: An Intake Profile Using the Child Behavior Checklist/4-18’, Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 8 (1), pp. 49–64.
  Google Scholar

Asghari, M. S and Besharat, M. A. (2011) ‘The relation of perceived parenting with emotional intelligence’, Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 30, pp. 231–235.
  Google Scholar

Bagdi, A. and Pfister, I. K. (2006) ‘Childhood Stressors and Coping Actions: A Comparison of Children and Parents’ Perspectives’, Child & Youth Care Forum, 35 (1), pp. 21–40.
  Google Scholar

Barlow, J. et al. (2016) ‘Group-based parent training programmes for improving emotional and behavioural adjustment in young children’, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 8 [Online]. Available https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6797064/. (Accessed: 02 August 2020).
  Google Scholar

Barlow, J., Coren, E. and Stewart‐Brown S. (2003) ‘Parent-training programmes for improving maternal psychosocial health’, The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 1, CD002020. [online]. Available doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002020.pub2 (Accessed: 27 April 2021).
  Google Scholar

Barłóg, M. and Stradomska M. (2017) ‘Samoocena i inteligencja emocjonalna jako indywidualne predyktory gotowości do tworzenia rodziny zastępczej, rodziny adopcyjnej oraz postawy względem pomocy społecznej’ [Self-esteem and emotional intelligence as individual predictors of readiness to create a foster families, adoptive families and attitudes towards social welfare], Kwartalnik Naukowy Fides et ratio, 1 (29), pp. 276–288.
  Google Scholar

Barroso, N. E. et al. (2018) ‘Parenting stress through the lens of different clinical groups: A systematic review and meta-analysis’, Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 46 (3), pp. 449–461.
  Google Scholar

Berrick, J. D. and Skivenes M. (2012) ‘Dimensions of high quality foster care: Parenting Plus’, Children and Youth Services Review, 34 (9), pp. 1956–1965.
  Google Scholar

Brackett, M. A., Mayer, J. D. and Warner R. M. (2004) ‘Emotional intelligence and its relation to everyday behaviour’, Personality and Individual Differences, 36 (6), pp. 1387–1402.
  Google Scholar

Broady, T. R. et al. (2010) ‘The Experiment of Foster Care’, Journal of Child and Family Studies 19, pp. 559–571.
  Google Scholar

Brown, J. D. (2008) ‘Foster parents’ perceptions of factors needed for successful foster placements’, Journal of Child and Family Studies, 17, pp. 538–554.
  Google Scholar

Calero P. J. et al. (2017) ‘Parenting stress and coping strategies in mothers of children receiving early intervention services’, Journal of Child and Family Studies, 26, pp. 3192–3202.
  Google Scholar

Campbell, A. and Ntobedzi A. (2007) ‘Emotional intelligence, coping and psychological distress: A partial least squares approach to developing a predictive model’, Electronic Journal of Applied Psychology, 3 (1), pp. 39–54.
  Google Scholar

Ciarrochi, J. V., Chan, A. Y. C. and Caputi P. (2000) ‘A critical valuation of the emotional intelligence construct’, Personality and Individual Differences, 28, pp. 539–561.
  Google Scholar

Ciarrochi, J., Chan, A. Y. C. and Bajgar J. (2001) ‘Measuring emotional intelligence in adolescents’, Personality and Individual Differences, 31 (7), pp. 1105–1119.
  Google Scholar

Compas, B. E. and Williams, R. A. (1990) ‘Stress, coping, and adjustment in mothers and young adolescents in single- and two-parent families’, American Journal of Community Psychology, 18 (4), pp. 525–545.
  Google Scholar

Connor-Smith, J. K. et al. (2000) ‘Responses to stress in adolescence: Measurement of coping and involuntary stress responses’, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68 (6), pp. 976–992.
  Google Scholar

Cooley, M. E. and Petren R. E. (2011) ‘Foster parent perceptions of competency: Implications for foster parent training’, Children and Youth Services Review, 33, pp. 1968–1974.
  Google Scholar

Cooley, M. E., Thompson, H. M. and Wojciak A. S. (2017). Risk, resilience, and complexity: Experiences of foster parents. Children and Youth Services Review, 76, pp. 35–41.
  Google Scholar

Cooley, M. E., Thompson, H. M. and Newell E. (2019) ‘Examining the influence of social support on the relationship between child behavior problems and foster parent satisfaction and challenges’, Child Youth Care Forum, 48, pp. 289–303.
  Google Scholar

Costa, S. et al. (2018) ‘The intergenerational transmission of trait emotional intelligence: The mediating role of parental autonomy support and psychological control’, Journal of Adolescence, 68, pp. 105–116.
  Google Scholar

Cosway, R.,et al. (2000) ‘The Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations: Factorial structure and associations with personality traits and psychological health’, Journal of Applied Biobehavioral Research, 5 (2), pp. 121–143.
  Google Scholar

Dąbrowska, A. and Pisula E. (2010) ‘Parenting stress and coping styles in mothers and fathers of pre-school children with autism and Down syndrome’, Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 54 (3), pp. 266–280.
  Google Scholar

Denlinger, M. and Dorius C. (2018) ‘Communication patterns between foster parents and case managers’, Children and Youth Services Review, 89, pp. 329–339.
  Google Scholar

De Maeyer, S. et al. (2014) ‚Motivation for foster care’, Children and Youth Services Review, 36, pp. 143–149.
  Google Scholar

De Maeyer, S. et al. (2015) ‚Foster parents’ coping style and attitudes toward parenting’, Children and Youth Services Review, 53, pp. 70–76.
  Google Scholar

Endler, N. S. and Parker J. D. A. (1990a) ‚Multidimensional assessment of coping: A critical evaluation’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58 (5), pp. 844–854.
  Google Scholar

Endler, N. S. and Parker J. D. A. (1990b) Coping inventory for stressful situations (CISS): Manual. Toronto: Multi-Health Systems, Inc.
  Google Scholar

Fteiha, M. and Awwad N. (2020) ‘Emotional intelligence and its relationship with stress coping style’, Health Psychology Open. [online]. Available https://doi.org/10.1177/2055102920970416
  Google Scholar

(Accessed: 27 April 2021).
  Google Scholar

Gabler, S. et al. (2018) ‚Predictors of foster parents’ stress and associations to sensitivity in the first year after placement’, Child Abuse & Neglect, 79, pp. 325–338.
  Google Scholar

Geiger, J. M., Hayes, M. J. and Liet C. A. (2013) ‘Should I stay or should I go? A mixed methods study examining the factors influencing foster parents’ decisions to continue or discontinue providing foster care’, Children and Youth Services Review, 35 (9), pp. 1356–1365.
  Google Scholar

Geiger, J. M. et al. (2016) ‘Empathy as an essential foundation to successful foster parenting’, Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25 (12), pp. 3771–3779.
  Google Scholar

Goemans, A. et al. (2018) ‘Psychosocial screening and monitoring for children in foster care: Psychometric properties of the Brief Assessment Checklist in a Dutch population study’, Clinical child psychology and psychiatry, 23 (1), pp. 9–24.
  Google Scholar

Gugliandolo, M. C. et al. (2015) ‘Trait emotional intelligence as mediator between psychological control and behaviour problems’, Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24, pp. 2290–2300.
  Google Scholar

Harden, B. J. et al. (2008) ‘Measuring parenting among foster families: The development of the Foster Parent Attitudes Questionnaire (FPAQ)’, Children and Youth Services Review, 30 (8), pp. 879–892.
  Google Scholar

Jacobsen, H. et al. (2020) ‘Foster children are at risk for developing problems in social-emotional functioning: A follow-up study at 8 years of age’, Children and Youth Services Review, 108, 104603 [online]. Available https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104603. (Accessed: 27 March 2021).
  Google Scholar

Jaworowska, A. and Matczak A. (2001) Kwestionariusz Inteligencji Emocjonalnej INTE. Podręcznik [Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire INTE: Manual]. Warszawa: Pracownia Testów Psychologicznych PTP.
  Google Scholar

Jung, Y. H.,et al. (2019) ‘Relationships among stress, emotional intelligence, cognitive intelligence, and cytokines’, Medicine, 98 (18), e15345 [online]. Available https://doi.org/10.1097MD.0000000000015345. (Accessed: 11 May 2020).
  Google Scholar

Kovačević, M. P. et al. (2018) ‘Relationship between coping strategies and emotional intelligence among patients with schizophrenia’, Psychiatria Danubina, 30 (3), pp. 299–304.
  Google Scholar

Lawrence, C. R., Carlson, E. A. and Egeland B. (2006) ‘The impact of foster care on development’, Development and psychopathology, 18 (1), pp. 57–76.
  Google Scholar

Lazarus, R. S. (1993) ‘Coping theory and research: Past, present, and future’, Psychosomatic Medicine, 55 (3), pp. 234–247.
  Google Scholar

Lazarus, R. S. and Folkman S. (1984). Stress, appraisal and coping. New York: Springer.
  Google Scholar

Lekaviciene, R. and Antiniene D. ( 2016 ) ‘High emotional intelligence: family psychosocial factors’, Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 217, pp. 609–617.
  Google Scholar

Lim, S. A., You, S. and Ha D. (2015) ‘Parental emotional support and adolescent happiness: Mediating roles of self-esteem and emotional intelligence’, Applied Research Quality Life, 10, pp. 631–646.
  Google Scholar

Livneh, H. (2019). The use of generic avoidant coping scales for psychosocial adaptation to chronic illness and disability: A systematic review. Health Psychology [online]. Available https://doi.org/10.1177/2055102919891396. (Accessed: 16 May 2020).
  Google Scholar

Lopez-Zafra and E., Gartzia L. (2014) ‘Perceptions of gender differences in self-report measures of emotional intelligence’, Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, 70 (11–12), pp. 479–495.
  Google Scholar

Ludmer, J. A. et al. (2018) ‘Comparing the multicomponent coping power program to individualized parent–child treatment for improving the parenting efficacy and satisfaction of parents of children with conduct problems’, Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 49, pp. 100–108.
  Google Scholar

Łucka, I. et al. (2010) ‘The foster families: Dilemmas and hopes’, Psychiatry, 7 (6), pp. 234–243.
  Google Scholar

Maaskant, A. M., Van Rooij, F. B. and Hermanns J. M. A. (2014) ‘Mental health and associated risk factors of Dutch school aged foster children placed in long-term foster care’, Children and Youth Services Review, 44, pp. 207–216.
  Google Scholar

Maaskant, A. M. et al. (2017) ‘Effects of PMTO in foster families with children with behavior problems: A randomized controlled trial’, Journal of Child and Family Studies, 26 (2), pp. 523–539.
  Google Scholar

Mattingly, V. and Kraiger K. (2019) ‘Can emotional intelligence be trained? A meta-analytical investigation’, Human Resource Management Review, 29 (2), pp. 140–155.
  Google Scholar

Mayer, J. D., Caruso, D. R. and Salovey P. (1999) ‘Emotional intelligence meets traditional standards for an intelligence’, Intelligence, 27, pp. 267–298. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0160-2896 (99)00016-1
  Google Scholar

Mayer, J. D. and Geher G. (1996) ‘Emotional intelligence and the identification of emotion’, Intelligence, 22, pp. 89–113.
  Google Scholar

Mayer, J. D., Roberts, R. D. and Barsade S. G. (2008) ‘Human abilities: Emotional Intelligence’, Annual Review of Psychology, 59, pp. 507–536.
  Google Scholar

Mayer, J. D. and Salovey P. (1995) ‘Emotional intelligence and the construction and regulation of feelings’, Applied & Preventive Psychology, 4 (3), pp. 197–208.
  Google Scholar

Mayer, J. D., Salovey, P. and Caruso D. R. (2004) ‘Emotional intelligence: Theory, findings, and implications’, Psychological Inquiry, 15 (3), pp. 197–215.
  Google Scholar

Moradi, A. et al. (2011) ‘The relationship between coping strategies and emotional intelligence’, Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 30, pp. 48–751.
  Google Scholar

Murray, L., Tarren-Sweeny, M. and France K. (2011) ‘Foster career perceptions of support and training in the context of high burden of care’, Child and Family Social Work, 16 (2), pp. 149–158.
  Google Scholar

Noorbakhsha, S. N., Besharata, M. A., and Zarei J. (2010) ‘Emotional intelligence and coping styles with stress’, Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 5, pp. 818–822.
  Google Scholar

On Supporting the Family and the Foster Care System Act – Dz.U. 2011 nr 149 poz. 887 [Online]. Available http://prawo.sejm.gov.pl/isap. nsf/download.xsp/WDU20111490887/U/ D2011­0887Lj.pdf. (Accessed: 27 May 2021).
  Google Scholar

Pau, A. and Croucher R. (2003) ‘Emotional intelligence and perceived stress in dental undergraduates’, Journal of Dental Education, 67 (9), pp. 1023–1028.
  Google Scholar

Picci, R. L. et al. (2015) ‘Emotional burden and coping strategies of parents of children with rare diseases’, Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24, pp. 514–522.
  Google Scholar

Platsidou, M. and Tsirogiannidou E. (2016) ‘Enhancement of emotional intelligence, family communication, and family satisfaction via a parent educational program’, Journal of Adult Development, 23, pp. 245–253.
  Google Scholar

Por, J. et al. (2011) ‘Emotional intelligence: its relationship to stress, coping, well-being and professional performance in nursing students’, Nurse Education Today, 31 (8), pp. 855–860.
  Google Scholar

Rafnsson, F. D. et al (2006) ‘Factor structure and psychometric characteristics of the Icelandic version of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS)’, Personality and Individual Differences, 40, pp. 1247–1258.
  Google Scholar

Richardson, E. W. et al. (2018) ‘Foster mothers’ parenting stress and co-parenting quality: An examination of the moderating role of support’, Children and Youth Services Review, 89, pp. 77–82.
  Google Scholar

Rudman, L. A. and Goodwin S. A. (2004) ‘Gender differences in automatic in-group bias: Why do women like women more than men like men?’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 87 (4), pp. 494–509.
  Google Scholar

Schoenewald, C. (2016) A qualitative study to explore ambiguous loss and belonging in foster care (Doctoral dissertation, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee). [Online]. Available https://search1proquest1com1sqye6jlz0501.han.uni.opole.pl/docview/1796063534/7925AC2767694E2DPQ/1?accountid=12995. (Accessed: 27 May 2021).
  Google Scholar

Schutte, N. S. et al. (1998) ‘Development and validation of a measure of emotional intelligence’, Personality and Individual Differences, 25 (2), pp. 167–177.
  Google Scholar

Sears, S. F., Jr, Urizar, G. G., Jr, and Evans G. D. (2000) ‘Examining a stress-coping model of burnout and depression in extension agents’, Journal of occupational health psychology, 5 (1), pp. 56–62.
  Google Scholar

Seiffge-Krenke, I. and Pakalniskiene V. (2011) ‘Who shapes whom in the family: reciprocal links between autonomy support in the family and parents’ and adolescents’ coping behaviors’, Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40, pp. 983–995.
  Google Scholar

Sharma, J., Dhar, R. L. and Tyagi A. (2016) ‘Stress as a mediator between work-family conflict and psychological health among the nursing staff: Moderating role of emotional intelligence’, Applied nursing research : ANR, 30, pp. 268–275.
  Google Scholar

Skinner E. A. and Zimmer-Gembeck M. J. (2016) ‚Parenting, family stress, developmental cascades, and the differential development of coping’ in Skinner, E.A. and Zimmer-Gembeck M.J. (eds.) The Development of Coping. Cham: Springer, pp. 239–261.
  Google Scholar

Solomon, D. T., Niec, L. N. and Schoonover C. E. (2017) ‘The impact of foster parent training on parenting skills and child disruptive behavior: A meta-analysis’, Child Maltreatment, 22 (1), pp. 3–13.
  Google Scholar

Strelau, J. et al. (2005) Kwestionariusz Radzenia Sobie w Sytuacjach Stresowych CISS. Podręcznik [Questionnaire of Coping in Stress Situations CISS. Manual]. Warszawa: Pracownia Testów Psychologicznych PTP.
  Google Scholar

Turcule, A. and Tulbure C. (2014) ‘The relation between the emotional intelligence of parents and children’, Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 142, pp. 592–596.
  Google Scholar

Vanderfaeillie, J. et al. (2016) ‚Support needs and satisfaction in foster care: Differences between foster mothers and foster fathers’, Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25 (5), pp. 1515–1524.
  Google Scholar

Van Rooy, D. L., Alonso, A. and Viswesvaran C. (2005) ‘Group differences in emotional intelligence scores: theoretical and practical implications’, Personality and Individual Differences, 38 (3), pp. 689–700.
  Google Scholar

Vanschoonlandt, F. et al. (2012) ‘Development of an intervention for foster parents of young foster children with externalizing behavior: Theoretical basis and program description’, Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 15 (4), pp. 330–344.
  Google Scholar

Wadsworth, M. E. et al. (2005) ‘Parent and adolescent responses to poverty-related stress: Tests of mediated and moderated coping models’, Journal of Child and Family Studies, 14 (2), pp. 283–298.
  Google Scholar

Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. and Skinner E. A. (2016) ‘The development of coping: Implications for psychopathology and resilience’ in D. Cicchetti (ed.) Developmental psychopathology: Risk, resilience, and intervention. New York: John Wiley & Sons, pp. 485–545.
  Google Scholar


Veröffentlicht
2022-01-09

##plugins.themes.libcom.cytowania##

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

Statistics

Downloads

Keine Nutzungsdaten vorhanden.