An evaluation of a 10-week Nurturing Attachments group
Exploring quantitative and qualitative outcomes for foster carers and children in care
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 11941571 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Matthew Hershon (0009-0000-7369-9148, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, corresponding author), Anita Holtom-Viesel (Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust), Claudine Fox (University of Warwick) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 50 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 49-64 |
| Publication date | 2025-12-10 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Adoption & Fostering (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0308-5759 • E-ISSN: 1740-469X |
| Publisher | SAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/03085759251394047 |
| OpenAlex | W7113903090 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 24 |
This service evaluation examined a modified, 10-week Nurturing Attachments group provided by an NHS service for children in care. Areas of evaluation included child outcomes, child–carer relationships, foster carers’ self-efficacy and carers’ experiences of the course. The groups ran 12 times, from September 2017 to July 2023. Eighty-two foster carers provided data at week one, 54 at week 10 and 29 at a two-month follow-up, highlighting a high rate of attrition. Carers completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, the Child-Parent Relationship Scale and the Brief Parental Self-Efficacy Scale at the three time points and provided qualitative comments. Quantitative data were analysed using repeated-measures analysis of variance tests (ANOVAs) and t-tests; qualitative comments were collated and summarised. From week one to week 10, significant improvements were found for carer self-efficacy (p = .04, Cohen’s d = .40), carer–child closeness (p = .04, Cohen’s d = .30) and child peer problems (p = .03, Cohen’s d = .30). Children’s dependency significantly decreased from week 10 to follow-up (p = .02, np 2 = .15). Carers also reported an increased understanding of attachment and trauma, and feelings of support from fellow carers. Findings are further discussed in relation to the limitations, previous literature, clinical implications and future research
Closeness · Feeling · Qualitative analysis · Qualitative property · Qualitative research · Scale (ratio · Child Abuse and Trauma · Child Welfare and Adoption · Family Support in Illness
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| Highly cited | No |
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