Polyvictimization Experiences and Depression Among Youth Living in Foster Care

• Author: Melissa Wells,Aimée X. Delaney
• Published date: 01 June 2017
• Date: 01 June 2017
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0734016817704699
• Subject Matter: Articles

Article

Polyvictimization Experiences

and Depression Among Youth

Living in Foster Care

Aime

´e X. Delaney

1

and Melissa Wells

2

Abstract

Current research indicates that violence against youth contributes to adverse psychological out-

comes but has yet to focus on violence against youth while living in foster care and the associated

psychosomatic changes over time. Multilevel modeling regression was used to analyze self-reported

depression for a sample of 354 youth living in foster care from one Midwestern state. The present

study found that changes in depression levels over time among the foster care youth who experi-

enced polyvictimization, compared to the youth who experienced child maltreatment alone, were

conditional upon gender and varied significantly by race. Policy implications are discussed.

Keywords

polyvictimization, child maltreatment, foster care, mental health, depression

Evidence suggests that each single type of victimization tends to increase the risk for youth to

experience polyvictimization (Cuevas, Finkelhor, Ormrod, & Turner, 2010; Finkelhor, Turner,

Hamby, & Ormrod, 2011; Finkelhor, Turner, Ormrod, & Hamby, 2009; McIntyre & Widom,

2011). Polyvictimization can be defined as multiple victimization experiences that are either simul-

taneous or sequential throughout an individual’s life span (Cuevas et al., 2010; Hahm, Lee, Ozonoff,

& Van Wert, 2010; Hamby, Finkelhor, Turner, & Ormrod, 2010; Finkelhor, Ormrod, & Turner,

2007a; Finkelhor et al., 2011; McIntyre & Widom, 2011). Youth who have been placed into foster

care due to substantiated child maltreatment experiences may be more vulnerable to experiencing

polyvictimization. Specifically, research indicates that experiencing child maltreatment increases

the risk for nonfamilial violent crime victimization during adulthood (McIntyre & Widom, 2011).

Experiencing child maltreatmen t can also pose negative consequ ences for mental health status

among youth (e.g., Cohen, Mannarino, Murray, & Igelman, 2006; Edleson, 2004; Finkelhor, Orm-

rod, & Turner, 2009b; Finkelhor, Ormrod, Turner, & Hamby, 2005: Kitzmann, Gaylord, Holt, &

Kenny, 2003; Stapleton, Phillips, Moynihan, Wiesen-Martin, & Beaulieu, 2010). In addition,

1

Department of Criminal Justice, Worcester State University, Worcester, MA, USA

2

Department of Social Work, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA

Corresponding Author:

Aime

´e X. Delaney, Department of Criminal Justice, Worcester State University, 486 Chandler Street, Worcester, MA 01601,

USA.

Email: adelaney@worcester.edu

Criminal Justice Review

2017, Vol. 42(2) 146-162

ª2017 Georgia State University

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DOI: 10.1177/0734016817704699

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different types of violence against youth can independently contribute to negative effects on psy-

chological wellness and functioning, including depre ssion (Boxer & Terranova, 2008; Mrug &

Windle, 2010; Turner, Finkelhor, & Ormrod, 2006).

In recent years, research dedicated to examining both child maltreatment and other forms of

violence against youth (i.e., polyvictimization) has increased. To date, much of the child welfare

literature has focused on examining polyvictimization among general populations of youth (Turner

et al., 2006) and specific-associated traumatic outcomes (Bennett, Sullivan, & Lewis, 2010; Cuevas

et al., 2010; Turner et al., 2006). There is limited research exploring polyvictimization experiences

over time among youth living in foster care. Yet, the literature seems devoid of data on changes in

depression levels over time within and among youth who experience polyvictimization while resid-

ing in foster care. To what extent are polyvictimization experiences associated with depression

levels over time? Do depression levels vary from youth to youth living in foster care due to

polyvictimization? The present study fills these gaps in the literature by assessing changes in youths’

depression levels due to experiencing polyvictimization while residing in foster care. The results of

this study are expected to offer professionals working in or with the foster care system evidence-

based data for developing specific services for youth transitioning out of the foster care system,

particularly among youth most vulnerable for future victimization experiences.

Child Maltreatment and Depression

Estimates derived from population-based samples indicate that roughly 125 in 1,000 youth experi-

ence child maltreatment (Finkelhor et al., 2005). One of the most common effects of trauma from

experiencing child maltreatment is emotional problems, including depressive symptoms (Carlson,

2000; Cohen, Mannarino, & Knudsen, 2005; Cohen et al., 2006; Van der Kolk & Courtois, 2005),

and specifically increased depression levels (Edleson, 2004). Maltreatment types are often inter-

twined (Edwards, Holden, Felitti, & Anda, 2003; Martinez, Gudin

˜o, & Lau, 2013; McGee, Wolfe,

Yuen, Wilson, & Carnochan, 1995; Ney, Fung, & Wickett, 1994), and not all incidents of alleged

maltreatment are substantiated. Some existing research uses samples of youth with unsubstantiated

reports of child maltreatment, which do not generally have long-term official intervention for these

youth. Therefore, the youth sampled in these studies were not studied over time to ascertain negative

psychological outcomes. Comparatively, substantiated child welfare reports tend to involve more

severe incidents of child maltreatment which can result in youth being placed in foster care homes

(Crosson-Tower, 2010). Youth living in foster care then may have the most need for mental health

services.

Foster Care and Mental Health

The most egregious of child maltreatment incidents may be the cases that are substantiated by the

legal system and child welfare agencies. A large portion of the youth involved in substantiated child

maltreatment cases require placement within the foster care system (Christian & Schwarz, 2011).

Estimates place more than 500,000 children residing in foster care, and it is estimated that 70%of

those youth were placed in foster care due to child maltreatment (Christian & Schwarz, 2011; Hahm

et al., 2010). Studies using samples of youth reported to child protection suggest that many youth

having involvement with the child welfare system have an associated mental health disorder

(Garland, Landsverk, Hough, & Ellis-MacLeod, 1996; Landsverk, Garland, & Leslie, 2002; Taussig,

2002), including increased depression levels (Ayon & Marcenko, 2008). The few studies specifically

focused on samples of youth living in foster care indicate that these youth exhibit more long-term

negative psychological symptomatology, including an increased likelihood of experiencing some

degree of depressive symptoms (McMillen et al., 2004; Pecora, Jensen, Romanelli, Jackson, & Ortiz,

Delaney and Wells 147