Self-care practices among foster parents: An exploratory study

Given the multifarious challenges facing foster parents and the impact these challenges may have on caring for young people, it is imperative that researchers examine aspects of wellness among foster parents. This study explored the personal self-care practices of foster parents (N = 1271) in one southeastern state. Researchers utilized the Self-Care Practices Scale (SCPS) to explore the personal self-care practices of foster parents, as well as the relationships between demographic and foster parenting characteristics and self-care, respectively. Congruent with other research related to helping professionals, results from the current study indicate that foster parents engage in moderate amounts of self-care. In addition, analyses detected significant differences in personal self-care scores by gender, relationship status, health status, and current financial status. Significant predictors of self-care include gender, race, sexual orientation, employment status, health status, and current financial situation. Implications associated with training and support for foster parents are discussed.