Behavioral and emotional problems in foster children in Flanders: a prevalence study

Abstract

In the Flemish region of Belgium, about 2,000 children are placed in foster families in the purview of special youth assistance. In this paper we examine the prevalence of behavioral and emotional problems in a representative sample of four to twelve-year-old foster children in Flanders. We also compare problem behavior of Flemish children in the general population, in foster care and in residential care. This study is part of a large-scale epidemiological investigation into problem behavior among children in Flanders, initiated and subsidized by the Flemish government, in particular by the Ministery of Public Health (Hellinckx, De Munter & Grietens, 1991, 1993). After a brief introduction to prevalence studies of faster children, we explain the method used in the present study, the sampling procedure and the assessment technique. Next, the main findings will be presented and discussed, including comparisons with prevalence qf behavioral and emotional problems in the general population and in children in residential care.