Fostering "Family": Communication Orientations in the Foster Parent-Child Relationship

Although foster families serve a critical societal role, little is known about foster family communication dynamics. The present study investigated the relationship of current foster parents' (n = 158) communication with his/her foster child on foster parents' perceptions of relational and child well-being. Structural equation modeling analysis revealed that foster parent-child communication is associated with foster parents' perceptions of shared family identity, relational closeness, and child resiliency. These findings suggest the importance of domain-specific family communication orientations and underscore the critical role of open communication in foster families.