Determinants of Resilience in Biological, Adoptive and Foster Families Living With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

The study builds on an existing collaboration with Adoption UK researching family support services. It will focus on an active area of policy development, namely, the support needs of families living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). FASD affects global child development and functioning in adulthood. High levels of parenting stress reported in families living with FASD creates a risk of family breakdown and placement disruption for those in the care of the state. This is particularly concerning given that home stability has been identified as a key protective factor for children living with FASD. Additionally, the stigma associated with FASD and public care creates barriers to help-seeking. While previous studies mostly focus on the deficits and difficulties experienced by these families, there is emerging evidence that some families living with FASD are able to overcome these difficulties to enable children to thrive. However, little is known about the factors that facilitate such resilience. This doctoral study will examine the individual, family and contextual factors that promote positive family functioning in biological, adoptive, kinship and fostering families living with FASD. Specifically, it will encompass three interconnected studies: a) a systematic narrative review mapping the individual and structural determinants of resilience in families living with FASD; b) an interpretative qualitative study to examine lived experiences of FASD families in the UK; and; c) a quantitative study testing a hypothesised model of the determinants of family resilience (based on findings from study 1 & 2) in a larger sample of families accessed through the partner agency. The findings of the study will generate novel insights into the individual and structural determinants of resilience and evidence to inform interventions. An immediate impact will be the use of this knowledge to inform service developments for our collaborating partner.