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The role of theory of mind in the emotional, behavioural and communicative functioning of adopted adolescents
2017 · United Kingdom
Thirty-two adopted adolescents aged 11–16 and 21 age- and gender-matched comparison adolescents completed social cognition tasks. Parents completed emotional, behavioural and communication questionnaires. Most theory-of-mind measures differed little between groups, although one animation task showed a difference in communicating mental states. Parents reported more emotional and behavioural concerns and social relationship difficulties among adoptees.
The Usefulness of Oral Life (Hi)story to Understand and Empower: The Case of Trans-Racial Adoption
2005 · United Kingdom (programme context; article sample detail not established)
Drawing on research with transracial adoptees, this article examines the use of oral life-history interviews. It describes the research design and discusses methodological difficulties and the opportunities this approach offers for adoptees to explain their own experiences.
Theorising the Racial Identity Development of Transracial Adoptees: A Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
2007 · United Kingdom
This British study examined racial identity among adults adopted transracially as children. Qualitative accounts collected in 2000–2003 were analysed using a symbolic interactionist approach. The article describes how family differences, other people’s racial categorisation and experiences of inclusion and exclusion shaped identities combining birth and adoptive heritages.
Therapists’ experience of the therapeutic relationship when working with adults adopted as infants
2017 · United Kingdom
Six adoption counsellors were interviewed about therapeutic relationships with adults adopted in infancy. Interpretative phenomenological analysis described attention to rejection, efforts to offer a different relational experience, and the consequences of this work for therapists. The analysis addressed establishing, sustaining and ending therapy.
Together or apart? An analysis of social workers' decision-making when considering the placement of siblings for adoption or foster care
2014 · United Kingdom
Six social workers from one local authority were interviewed about sibling placement decisions. Thematic analysis examined attention to individual needs, possible effects of separation and the quality of sibling relationships. Decisions were also shaped by professional and system constraints, other people’s views and ways of processing information.
Towards a Better Understanding of the Needs of Children Currently Adopted from Care: An Analysis of Placements 2003–2005
2009 · England
An adoption agency analysed the needs of 103 consecutive children placed for adoption from care during 2003–2005. They came from 41 English local authorities. Using the Matching Needs and Services approach, researchers identified nine groups with differing complexity of need and examined how services responded.
Towards Modernising Adoption in Scotland: A Focused Mapping Review
2024 · Scotland
A commissioned mapping review of UK and international evidence concerning adoption from care, covering matching, life-story work, birth-family relationships and contact, and adoption support across the life course.
Trans-racial adoption : a study of race, identity and policy
2004 · United Kingdom
Using oral life-history interviews, this thesis examines transracial adoptees’ racial identity and belonging. Participants described racialised difference as sometimes isolating and sometimes positive, and connected these experiences with searches for birth heritage. The thesis interprets identity as changing and negotiated rather than fixed.
Transition to adulthood for young people in adoptive care: Secondary analyses of data from the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England (LSYPE)
2011 · England
Researchers followed 34 young people adopted from care using six waves of an English cohort and linked educational records. Compared with fostered and disadvantaged comparison groups, adoptees had better education and employment outcomes after GCSEs. They nevertheless reported bullying and mental-health difficulties during adolescence. The analysis combined young people’s interviews, family information and administrative attainment data.
Transnational adoptions and Life-Trajectories: a biography study of teenage and young adult adoptees living in Austria, England and Sweden
2011 · England, Austria and Sweden
Interviews and biographical photographs from 19 young people explored identity and life paths after transnational adoption. Participants lived in Austria, England and Sweden. Analysis highlighted support within adoptive families, connections with other adoptees and changes over time in interest in adoption and cultural identity. The author developed an interpretive model to organise these life histories.
Trends in intercountry adoption: Analysis of data from 20 receiving countries, 1998–2004
2006 · International, including UK
Analysis of records from 20 receiving countries, including the UK, examined international adoption between 1998 and 2004. Recorded intercountry adoptions increased by 42% across the included countries. The paper explored how differing data definitions affect country comparisons and estimates of children leaving countries of origin.
Understanding Early Permanence: A small-scale research study
2021 · England
This study combined a rapid literature review, administrative data, local-authority questionnaires and professional interviews about early permanence. National data identified about 380 early-permanence placements in 2018–19, roughly 11% of adoptions, with considerable variation between areas. The analysis examined placement pathways and recording practices rather than measuring long-term child outcomes.
Understanding how adults adopted in England pre-1989 experience parenthood
2026 · England
Researchers interviewed four adults, aged 40–50, adopted in England before 1989 and now parents themselves. Interpretative phenomenological analysis described parenthood as prompting renewed reflection on adoption, continuing adoption-related experiences and ways of moving forward. Participants’ accounts linked communication in their adoptive families with how they communicated as parents.
Understanding How Parental Caregiving Influences the Child’s Attachment in Adoptive and Biological Relationships
2026 · United Kingdom
A review of 32 studies and an empirical study of eight parent–child pairs, including five adoptive pairs with children aged five to eight, examined caregiving and child attachment. Child attachment tasks, observation and parent interviews were interpreted using different attachment frameworks, producing differing accounts of defensive behaviour and possible change.
Understanding the prospective associations between neuro-developmental problems, bullying victimization, and mental health: Lessons from a longitudinal study of institutional deprivation
2024 · United Kingdom (regional breakdown not specified)
Using assessments from ages 6, 11 and 15 and young adulthood, researchers examined neurodevelopmental difficulties, bullying and later mental health in 165 Romanian adoptees and 52 UK adoptees. Severe early deprivation was associated with more bullying and neurodevelopmental symptoms. Statistical models suggested a pathway in which earlier neurodevelopmental difficulties were followed by bullying and then adult depression or anxiety.
Urogenital abnormalities in men exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero: a cohort study
2009 · United States
A follow-up of three US cohorts used prenatal records to establish exposure and questionnaires to identify diagnoses. Prenatal DES exposure was associated with undescended testes, epididymal cysts and testicular inflammation or infection, especially with exposure early in pregnancy. Several other urogenital conditions showed no association.
User Views and Experiences of Post-Adoption Services: A Study of a Regional Post-Adoption Agency
2004 · England (West Midlands)
This article reports a collaborative study of users of West Midlands Post Adoption Service. Nearly all had approached other sources of help first. Most rated the service positively and described changes they attributed to its support. The analysis identified issues concerning publicity, access and further service provision.
Using adopted individuals to partition indirect maternal genetic effects into prenatal and postnatal effects on offspring phenotypes
2022 · United Kingdom
Researchers developed a statistical model and simulations to distinguish prenatal from postnatal indirect maternal genetic associations, using adopted people and family data in UK Biobank. Birthweight results were consistent with prenatal maternal effects. Education results suggested unexpectedly large prenatal associations; simulations showed that adoption by relatives could partly account for this pattern.
Using concurrent planning to establish permanency for looked after young children
2004 · England
Researchers followed 24 children in three concurrent-planning pilots and 44 children receiving conventional services for 12–15 months. Concurrent-planning children experienced fewer placement moves and reached permanence sooner. They were substantially younger at entry, which prevents a straightforward comparison of the approaches.
V. Differentiating developmental trajectories for conduct, emotion, and peer problems following early deprivation
2010 · United Kingdom; Romania (origin)
This separately indexed empirical research chapter forms part of the ERA adolescent follow-up monograph. Its title identifies the research topic, but the indexed record supplies no abstract. Findings are not summarised because the underlying chapter was not reviewed.