Parent, teacher, and caregiver reports on outsourced behavior problems of children and adolescents in residential care versus children living with their families

Abstract

Externalized behaviors in children and adolescents in residential care are regularly presented and taken as predictors of criminal behavior, dysfunctional relational dynamics, substance use, among others. The general objective of this study was to identify and compare problems of externalized behavior of children and adolescents in residential care and living with their families as reported by parents, teachers, and caregivers. The sample consisted of 222 adolescents and preadolescents between 11 and 16 of the Caracas Federal District and Miranda State, in Venezuela. The instrument used was the Child Behavior Check-List. No statistically-significant differences were found between the groups. However, the breaking score is higher for the group that lives in residential care; contrary to the control group, whose highest score was in aggressive behavior. The findings allow to see that, although in the reports of parents, teachers, and caregivers no differences were found between the groups in relation to their externalized behavior, the high scores can be conceived as risky behaviors before which one must act with caution and follow up.