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Publisher: Peytchinski Publishing Ltd.
ISSN: 1312-773X (Online)
Issue: 2024, vol. 30, issue4
Subject Area: Public Health
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DOI: 10.5272/jimab.2024304.5867
Published online: 21 November 2024
Original article
J of IMAB. 2024 Oct-Dec;30(4):5867-5872
PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL STRESS IN PROFESSIONAL FOSTER CARERS IN GABROVO REGION, BULGARIA
Dimitrina Grigorova-Stoilova1
, Tsvetelina Tarpomanova2
, Teodora Dimitrova3,
1) Center for public support/consultative center "Faith", SOS "Children's Villages", Gabrovo, Bulgaria.
2) Medical College, Medical University - Varna, Bulgaria.
3) Dean of the Faculty of Public Health, Medical University - Varna, Bulgaria.
ABSTRACT:
One of the challenges in providing foster care services is the psycho-emotional stress that foster parents experience.
The aim of the present study is to explore the risk factors increasing the levels of psycho-emotional stress and burnout in foster carers in the region of Gabrovo.
Materials and methods: The study included 63 professional foster carers from the region of Gabrovo. We used a questionnaire designed by the research team, the Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA) and a structured interview. Descriptive statistical methods and nonparametric analysis were conducted with IBM SPSS Statistics Base - v. 25.
Results: The main factors that contributed to the difficulties faced by foster parents in providing care were: the child's length of stay in the foster family; the child's age at the time of placement; the support provided by the state agencies, and ongoing training. Additional factors were the foster parents' income and place of residence, the child's current health and age; foster care being provided by couples.br />
Conclusion: Foster care needs to be provided in close collaboration between local authorities, state agencies, and foster carers, with continuous psychological support for both foster parents and foster children.
Keywords: foster care, professional foster carers, psycho-emotional stress,
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Please cite this article as: Grigorova-Stoilova D, Tarpomanova T, Dimitrova T. Psycho-emotional stress in professional foster carers in Gabrovo region, Bulgaria. J of IMAB. 2024 Oct-Dec;30(4):5867-5872. [Crossref - 10.5272/jimab.2024304.5867]
Correspondence to: Tsvetelina Tarpomanova, Medical College, Medical University – Varna; 84, Tzar Osvoboditel str., 9000, Varna, Bulgaria; E-mail: tsvetelina.tarpomanova@mu-varna.bg
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Received: 12 June 2024
Published online: 21 November 2024