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ABSTRACT
The physical, cognitive, and behavioral correlates of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) have been well-researched. However, there is minimal investigation of the non-biological correlates of cognition and behavior in this population. The association between foster care placement history and cognitive and behavioral functioning was explored using archival data from 136 children with FASD. Significant cognitive and behavioral abnormalities were found in the overall sample. Children with one foster care placement performed significantly better on measures of verbal intelligence, mathematics achievement, and impulse control and endorsed fewer symptoms of internalizing disorders compared to children who were never removed from their biological home. Children with multiple foster home placements generally fell between the other two groups on assessment measures. It may be important to consider placement history of children with FASD when attempting to understand their cognitive and behavioral abnormalities.
Notes
Acknowledgements: We are thankful to the Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (MOFAS) for providing funding and constant support to help maintain the FAS Clinic at the University of Minnesota. We would also like to thank Lydia Caros, DO, for completing the physical examinations with the participants and Gabrielle Mauren for entering and preparing the data for analyses.
∗p ≤ .05