Internal representations of self and primary attachment figures may be one mechanism by
which maltreatment affects children's interpersonal behavior and relationships with others.
Research on the continuity and influence of maltreated children's attachment
representations, however, has not included youngsters removed from abusive or neglectful home
environments. This paper examines the influence of maltreated children's maternal and
self-representations on subsequent relationships with foster mothers and behavioral adjustment in
foster care. Participants included 32 children, ages 9–13 years, who entered foster
placement for the first time after a sustained relationship with a maltreating biological mother.
Upon initially entering foster care, children's maternal and self-representations were
significantly related to each other and to severity of maltreatment history but not to other factors
believed to influence the quality of parent–child relationship (e.g., maternal mental health,
partner stability). In addition, these representations significantly predicted children's
subsequent views of their relationships with foster mothers. Finally, children's behavior in
their foster homes was associated with maltreatment severity, internal representations assessed at
entry into foster care, and to concurrent perceptions of their new foster mothers. These findings
advance our understanding of foster placement's role in maltreated children's
development and provide preliminary insight into the processes associated with the formation of
potentially compensatory relationships.