Profiles of adults most likely to become a foster family: A latent profile analysis

Abstract

Background The shortage of foster families to protect maltreated children requires urgent and effective solutions supported by theoretical and evidence-based frameworks. However, most research has focused only on the perspective of foster parents and has not been theoretically grounded. To the best of our knowledge, profiles of prospective foster families with representative samples from the general population have not yet been identified. Objective The current study aimed to identify the profile(s) of Portuguese adults most likely to become a foster family through latent profile analysis, exploring socio-demographic variables and factors related to capability, opportunity, and motivation (COM-B model) as predictors of profile membership. Participants and methods A representative sample of 1082 adults (Portugal) completed a survey comprising several self-report measures aligned with the theoretical dimensions of the COM-B model. Results The results revealed three profiles: Ready Responders (highest scores on awareness, willingness, and intention), Willing Waverers (high scores on willingness and moderate scores on awareness and intention), and Reluctant Bystanders (lowest scores on all indicators). Having children, contact with the child protection system, conscientiousness, social well-being, parental self-efficacy, family communication, and family-related, self-oriented, and child-centered reasons were significant predictors of profile membership. Conclusions These findings highlight the value of theory-informed profiling to inform targeted recruitment strategies for prospective foster families.