Adults who support looked after children: A thematic synthesis of men’s experiences and An empirical study of an attachment and DDP-informed intervention

Winton, Olivia 2026. Adults who support looked after children: A thematic synthesis of men’s experiences and An empirical study of an attachment and DDP-informed intervention. ClinPsy Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

Increasing numbers of looked after children require foster placements. Foster caring is acknowledged as both highly challenging and rewarding, and adequate support for carers is crucial for enabling positive outcomes. To date, little research has focussed on the experiences of male foster carers in this highly gendered area. This systematic review sought to explore and synthesise men’s experiences of providing foster care with the hope of gaining insight into men’s perspectives and any barriers to their involvement in fostering. Five electronic databases were systematically searched for studies that met the inclusion criteria. Ten studies reporting qualitative data relating to men’s experiences of providing foster care, with explicit discussion of gender, were included. The quality of each article was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) quality appraisal tool for qualitative research. Thematic synthesis produced three overarching analytical themes: 1) Navigating masculinity, 2) Barriers of a heteronormative system, and 3) More than a job: foster caring is “a huge commitment”. Men’s engagement in foster caring is highly influenced by gender norms, and their contributions continue to be undervalued. Research, recruitment and support that explicitly invites and values men’s contributions may challenge stereotypes and increase the pool of available foster carers.

Item Type:	Thesis (DClinPsy)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Schools > Psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Uncontrolled Keywords:	foster care, foster fathers, systematic review, thematic synthesis
Funders:	N/A
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	27 July 2026
Last Modified:	27 Jul 2026 08:25
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/188445

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