Perceived functioning of the family system in professional foster families

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyse the differences in the perception of the functioning of the family system between professional foster parents, their life partners, biological children, and children placed in professional foster families. Methods: The sample consisted of 401 respondents. The functioning of the family system was measured using the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale – FACES IV. The Family Communication Scale and the Family Satisfaction Scale were administered to assess communication and satisfaction with the family system. Results: The results of the statistical analyses did not confirm differences in the perception of the functioning of the family system between professional foster parents and their life partners, nor between the biological children of professional foster parents and children placed in professional foster families. Professional foster parents and children placed in professional foster families differed statistically significantly in balanced cohesion. Professional foster parents and their biological children differed statistically significantly in their perception of disengaged cohesion. Partners of professional foster parents and children placed in professional foster families differed in their perception of family adaptability, with children in professional foster families perceiving family functioning as more rigid compared to partners of professional foster parents. The results also indicated that biological children perceived family cohesion as more disengaged than partners of professional foster parents. Conclusion: Understanding the functioning of the family system of professional families is important in effectively applying a systems approach when working with this target group.