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A qualitative analysis of how therapists experience the therapeutic relationship with adults who were adopted as infants
2014 · United Kingdom
Six adoption counsellors were interviewed about therapy with adults adopted in infancy. Interpretative phenomenological analysis examined rejection within the therapeutic process, counsellors’ efforts to offer different relational experiences, and the personal and professional implications of this work.
A qualitative exploration of how adopted children and their parents conceptualise mental health difficulties
2016 · United Kingdom
Researchers examined adopted children’s understandings of mental health difficulties and services alongside their carers’ accounts. Children and carers sometimes described problems differently, although both described strained family relationships. Their accounts also addressed school, external support and the complexity of coping with adoption-related and everyday family difficulties.
A qualitative exploration of the experience and personal and professional impact of psychodynamic and integrative counselling training on adoptee counsellors
2024 · United Kingdom (regional coverage not specified in abstract)
Researchers interviewed four counsellors adopted before their first birthday: two trained in psychodynamic counselling and two in integrative counselling. Interpretative phenomenological analysis examined their training experiences. Themes concerned disclosure, their place in the world, relationships and reflection on themselves. Participants described training as helping them understand adoption-related identity and relationship difficulties.
A Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation of the Nurturing Attachments Group Programme
2016 · England
Pre- and post-programme questionnaires in 29 families, representing 49 adopted children, assessed a parenting programme across four English areas. Parent-rated overall child difficulties increased on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, while another child assessment showed no change. Conduct ratings decreased but emotional and peer difficulty ratings increased. Researchers considered whether parents’ changed understanding affected their ratings.
A Scoping and Scanning Review of Research on the Adoption of Children Placed from Public Care
2004 · United Kingdom research context (sample geography not specified in abstract)
A scoping and scanning review mapped research on children adopted from public care, covering adjustment, matching, preparation, contact, longer-term outcomes and intervention. It identified gaps in lifelong follow-up and evaluation of contact and support, recommending research across placement options and monitoring of policy initiatives.
A systematic review of the school performance and behavioural and emotional adjustments of children adopted from care
2017 · International evidence; England and Wales policy focus
A systematic review examined 15 articles about education and emotional or behavioural outcomes of children adopted from care. All but one associated adoption with lower academic attainment and more behavioural difficulties than non-adopted comparison groups. The review discusses monitoring and support in schools.
Achieving Permanency through Adoption: Following in US Footsteps?
2002 · England; United States
Drawing on commissioned international research, this paper compares adoption-system reforms in England and the United States. It examines service delivery, monitoring and accountability, and the early effects of US legislation. The abstract establishes the comparison but does not provide enough detail to summarise specific outcome findings.
ADHD in international adoptees: a national cohort study
2010 · Sweden
This Swedish national cohort compared 16,134 international adoptees with more than 1.3 million people with Swedish-born parents, using prescribed ADHD medication as the measured outcome. ADHD medication use was higher among international adoptees, with particularly high rates in some regions of origin, and risk increased with older age at adoption. The study reports a population-level association; medication use is not the same thing as a direct measure of ADHD prevalence or neurodivergence.
Adolescent callous-unemotional traits and conduct disorder in adoptees exposed to severe early deprivation
2012 · United Kingdom (regional breakdown not specified)
Researchers assessed conduct disorder and traits described as callous-unemotional at the age-15 follow-up of the English and Romanian Adoptees study. Clinical interviews and parent and young-person questionnaires showed no significant association between the two after accounting for measured differences. Most young people with high scores on these traits did not have conduct disorder in this sample.
Adolescent development following institutional care in the early years
1991 · England
Adolescents who had spent their early years in institutions and then been adopted or returned to birth parents were compared with matched adolescents without institutional care. Interviews, teacher questionnaires and assessments examined attachment, cognition and relationships. Outcomes differed by family placement; the formerly institutionalised group continued to show more emotional, behavioural and peer-relationship difficulties.
Adolescent inattention/overactivity/impulsivity as an outcome of early institutional deprivation: the role of genetic factors
2009 · United Kingdom
The ERA doctoral study followed attention, activity and impulsivity outcomes at ages six, 11 and 15 among Romanian and UK adoptees. Longer institutional deprivation was associated with greater and persistent difficulties, with variation between individuals. A genetic subsample examined whether DAT1 variation moderated this association.
Adopted Adults Who Search for Background Information and Contact with Birth Relatives
1997 · United Kingdom
Records for 366 adopted adults seeking background information or possible contact were analysed. The study describes reasons for seeking help, contact established and aspects of adoptive-family relationships.
Adopted children and the transition from primary to secondary school: an examination of pupil, parent and teacher views
2009 · England
Eleven adopted children and twenty parents returned questionnaires about moving to secondary school; six parents joined a focus group and four teachers were interviewed. Children described excitement about new lessons and friends, alongside concerns including bullying, unfamiliar teachers and disclosure of adoption. The study also identified communication and organisational support needs.
Adopted Children and Their Grandparents: Views from three Generations
2009 · United Kingdom
This study examined adoptive family relationships across three generations. A quantitative component involved 236 respondents, and interviews were conducted with children, parents and grandparents in six white British families. The analysis described grandparents as symbolising acceptance and approval within these families, alongside the cultural expectation that grandparents provide enjoyable relationships.
Adopted children and young people’s views on their life storybooks: The role of narrative in the formation of identities
2015 · England
Researchers interviewed 20 children and young people adopted from care in England about their life story books. Themes concerned the story told about their lives, identity and openness in communication. Children discussed honesty, gaps in their histories, treasured possessions and opportunities to talk about adoption.
Adopted children speaking
1999 · England and Wales
This book reports interviews with 41 adopted children about adoption and support. It forms a distinct child-interview phase of the Supporting Adoption research. The book itself was unavailable; no detailed findings are attributed to the unread text.
Adopted children: evidence review for the Children's Commissioner
2017 · England
An evidence review for the Children's Commissioner assessed available UK outcome evidence for adopted children. It identified limited evidence, principally on educational attainment and social outcomes, and noted gaps in longitudinal and adult-outcome evidence at the time.
Adopted children's co-production and use of 'trove' (a digitally enhanced memory box) to better understand their care histories through precious objects
2018 · England
Researchers developed a digitally enhanced memory box called trove with children and piloted ten boxes with adopted children in England. Children could store meaningful objects and link them to recorded memories. The paper examines this approach to life story work and children’s involvement in its design. The abstract identifies the trial but does not describe its specific findings.
Adopted children's internalizing symptoms and externalizing problems 8 years post-placement: Developmental trajectories and transitions
2025 · United Kingdom
Researchers followed ninety-two UK children adopted from care and their families at six time points over eight years, spanning ages two to fifteen. Emotional symptoms increased over time, while behavioural problems rose earlier and then slowed or levelled off. Both increased around school entry, and children adopted close to school entry showed more difficulties at that transition.
Adopted children’s mental health needs beyond attachment and trauma: A comparison of social work and mental health conceptualisations
2026 · England
Researchers compared 153 consecutive social-worker referral letters with diagnoses following specialist mental-health assessment of adopted children. Assessments commonly identified behavioural and neurodevelopmental conditions. Agreement between referral descriptions and clinical diagnoses was low, suggesting that the two services described children’s difficulties differently.