Professional quality of life of Australian Mockingbird FamilyTM foster carers : Compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress

Journal article

McLaren, Helen, Patmisari, Emi and Jones, Michelle. (2024). Professional quality of life of Australian Mockingbird FamilyTM foster carers : Compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. Children and Youth Services Review. 158, p. Article 107453. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107453
AuthorsMcLaren, Helen, Patmisari, Emi and Jones, Michelle
Abstract

Background
Children’s behaviours and support system typology are potential predictors of foster carer compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress (i.e., Professional Quality of Life, ProQOL). Little is known about the ProQOL of Mockingbird FamilyTM foster carers compared to foster carers caregiving as usual.

Objective
This study aimed to: Examine ProQOL of Mockingbird FamilyTM carers compared to other carers; Explain associations between ProQOL, demographic characteristics, and determinants of ProQOL.

Participants and setting: Two groups were studied: Mockingbird FamilyTM carers (n = 27) and other carers (n = 89) of children < 18yrs. The sample was drawn from a single registered foster care agency following implementation of the Mockingbird FamilyTM in Australia.

Methods
Cross-sectional, comparative mixed method design. Participants completed self-report questionnaires incorporating demographic questions, ProQOL instrument developed by Stamm (2010), and qualitative questions, analysed using SPSS 28.01 and thematically.

Results
Pearson correlation, t-test and ANOVA showed Mockingbird FamilyTM carers had a better ProQOL compared to carers caregiving as usual, with associations identified between ProQOL and socio-demographic aspects including gender, ProQOL and foster caring experience, and ProQOL and carers’ engagement of the children in community activities. Qualitative data showed that communication, relevance of training, and the quality of statutory and agency supports to members of the Mockingbird FamilyTM were key determinants of ProQOL.

Conclusions
Our findings showed that the Mockingbird FamilyTM model of foster care may improve the ProQOL of carers, compared to carers undertaking caregiving as usual. We recommend further research to examine associations with placement breakdown and carer attrition rates.

KeywordsAustralia; quality of life; mockingbird family; foster care; carers; children
Year2024
JournalChildren and Youth Services Review
Journal citation158, p. Article 107453
PublisherElsevier Ltd
ISSN0190-7409
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107453
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85183497562
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
Page range1-10
FunderLife Without Barriers
Department for Child Protection (DCP), Australian Government
Government of South Australia
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online23 Jan 2024
Publication process dates
Accepted09 Jan 2024
Deposited21 May 2025
Additional information

© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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