Relations among maltreatment history, substance use, and coping in youth in foster care: Examination of moderation models

Abstract

Child maltreatment is associated with a range of negative outcomes, including health risk behavior such as substance use (SU). This study aimed to test relations among maltreatment history, coping behavior, and SU behavior in youth residing in foster care. The sample consisted of 210 youth with a mean age of 12.71 years in either foster (68%) or residential (32%) placements. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted across measurement models of each of the latent constructs, revealing good to excellent fit across measures. Using a structural equation modeling (SEM) framework and longitudinal methodology, positive associations were identified between maltreatment at baseline and coping behavior outcomes as well as SU behavior outcome at follow-up approximately 4.5 months later. Specifically, maltreatment was associated with SU behavior as well as indirect action, prosocial, and antisocial coping behavior. Maltreatment was not significantly related to direct action coping behavior. In moderation tests, only antisocial coping provided a significant interaction effect in SU behavior outcomes. SU behavior did not serve as moderator of pathways between maltreatment and coping behavior. Results reveal that, for foster youth, coping approach may be varied and relate differentially to SU behavior outcomes, with antisocial approaches to coping acting as a buffer for the maltreatment/SU relation. Clinicians and researchers seeking to promote positive and adaptive coping strategies in foster youth should consider the varied role that coping may play with attention given to the situational nature of adaptive coping. Moreover, SU remains an important target for intervention and prevention in youth residing in foster care.