Skip to content

Research Library

Filter:

  • Exploring conduct difficulties amongst middle-aged children living in care

    This study looked at behaviour problems in children aged four to 11 who were living in foster care. It examined how these children thought about themselves, other people and the world around them.

    Authors: Anderson, K., Hillman, S., Manopoulou, T., et al.

    Download

  • Exploring the attachment-related representational and emotional trajectory from late adoption to early adulthood: A longitudinal qualitative study

    This study examines how three adopted adult women who experienced childhood maltreatment have managed their emotions and relationships over time.

    Authors: Nezi, K., Hillman, S.

    Download

  • Comparing the needs of children in independent agency and local authority foster care in the UK

    This study found children in independent fostering agencies are typically older with more complex needs than those in local authority care, but show similar levels of risk and short-term mental health outcomes.

    Authors: Silver, M., Chan, K., McGrath, A., & Hillman, S.

    Download

  • Wellbeing package for foster carers and teachers of looked-after children aged 8 to 11 years: the STrAWB feasibility RCT

    This study tested a new programme to support the mental health of children in care by training foster carers and teachers to work together. While the approach was acceptable to participants, the trial was not feasible due to low recruitment and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Authors: Luke N., Banerjee R, Dunn V, Douglas N. et al.

    Download

  • Exploring looked-after adolescents’ reports of their dissociative experiences

    This study examines the relationship between levels of dissociation, several pre-placement factors and other background variables to facilitate the understanding of the high prevalence of dissociation in adolescents living in care.

    Authors: Anderson, K., Hillman, S., Zhong, W., et al.

    Download

  • Exploring attachment representations and traumatic re-enactment in foster children

    This study assessed attachment representations in 28 Danish foster children (ages 4–10) using the Story Stem Assessment Profile (SSAP). Participants were enrolled in a trial comparing Mentalization-Based Family Therapy (MBT) to Care as Usual (CAU).

    Authors: Dalgaard, N. T., Reich, J. M., Jensen, J. K., et al.

    Download

  • Introducing routine assessment of adverse childhood experiences for looked-after children: The use and properties of the trauma and adverse life events (TALE) screening tool

    The present study aims to illustrate the process of developing, implementing, and clinically validating a new assessment measure, the Trauma and Adverse Life Events (TALE) screening tool, to assess Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) among looked-after children.

    Authors: Kerr-Davis, A., Hillman, S., Anderson, K., et al.

    Download

  • Preliminary findings on psychometric properties of the adolescent story stem profile

    This study examined the ASSP’s psychometric properties in a UK adolescent sample (N = 182), using exploratory factor analysis to identify underlying internal representation factors.

    Authors: Zhang, Y., Hillman, S., Pereira, M., et al.

    Download

  • Assessing changes in the internal worlds of early-and late-adopted children using the Story Stem Assessment Profile (SSAP)

    This study used the SSAP to compare internal representations in three child groups. Maltreated late-adopted children showed more disorganised, avoidant, and negative representations than early-adopted and non-adopted peers. Over two years, secure representations increased, while avoidant and disorganised ones decreased in both adopted groups.

    Authors: Hillman, S., Hodges, J., Steele, M., et al.