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Are there biological programming effects for psychological development? Findings from a study of Romanian adoptees
2004 · United Kingdom; Romania (origin)
Using Romanian-born and UK domestic adoptees, researchers examined whether early deprivation might leave persistent developmental effects after children entered families. Assessments at age six showed substantial recovery in cognition and social functioning alongside continuing difficulties for some children. The authors interpreted this pattern as consistent with lasting developmental changes, while noting variation between children.
Ascertaining Children's Wishes and Feelings in Relation to Adoption
1996 · United Kingdom research context (sample geography not specified in abstract)
Researchers examined a random sample of adoption files to see how children’s wishes and feelings were recorded. They inspected social workers’ reports and guardians’ roles. The study described occasions when children’s views were not established during the adoption process.
Assessing changes in the internal worlds of early- and late-adopted children using the Story Stem Assessment Profile (SSAP)
2020 · United Kingdom
Story-stem narratives were compared for 63 maltreated children adopted later, 48 children adopted early and 80 community children. Late-placed children initially showed more disorganised, avoidant and negative representations and fewer secure representations. Over two years, both adopted groups showed increasing secure representations and decreasing avoidant and disorganised representations.
Assessing Community Connectedness and Self-Regard in a Mid-Life Follow-up of British Chinese Adoptions
2012 · United Kingdom research context (sample geography not specified in abstract)
Researchers studied community belonging, identity and self-regard among 72 Hong Kong-born women adopted into British families in the 1960s. They developed questionnaires and examined connections between community belonging and wellbeing alongside interviews. The abstract does not give specific association results.
Association of Exposure to Diethylstilbestrol During Pregnancy With Multigenerational Neurodevelopmental Deficits
2018 · United States
In data from 47,540 Nurses’ Health Study II participants, reported ADHD diagnoses affected 7.7% of grandchildren of women who used DES during the relevant pregnancy, versus 5.2% without that exposure. The adjusted odds ratio was 1.36 (95% CI 1.10–1.67).
Attachment disorder behavior following early severe deprivation: extension and longitudinal follow-up. English and Romanian Adoptees Study Team
2000 · United Kingdom; Romania (origin)
Researchers assessed attachment-related behaviours at age six in 165 Romanian adoptees and 52 UK domestic adoptees, with age-four data for part of the sample. Parent interviews showed an association between longer deprivation and more attachment-related difficulties. These behaviours overlapped with attention, conduct and cognitive difficulties but also formed a distinct pattern. Individual differences were relatively stable between ages four and six.
Attachment disorders versus more common problems in looked after and adopted children: comparing community and expert assessments
2015 · England
A review of 100 consecutive specialist-service referrals compared community descriptions with expert assessments of looked-after and adopted children. Attachment disorders were identified substantially more often in community referrals, while common neurodevelopmental and conduct problems were identified less often. The study examines differences in diagnostic descriptions across services.
Attachment representations in children following early institutional deprivation
2004 · United Kingdom
At age 11, 90 children adopted from Romanian institutions and 30 UK adoptees without that deprivation completed the Child Attachment Interview. Researchers compared attachment representations with deprivation and earlier attachment disturbances. Associations with coherence, reflective functioning and atypical behaviours became non-significant after controlling for IQ.
Attachment state of mind and trauma in mother and baby home adoptees
2022 · United Kingdom / Ireland
Five adults aged over 55, adopted from mother and baby homes in the UK and Ireland, completed the Adult Attachment Interview. Researchers classified attachment states of mind and analysed interview themes. All five were classified as insecure and four as unresolved/disorganised. Their accounts concerned identity and belonging, trauma, silenced coping and adverse parenting.
Beginnings of Psychotherapy with Adopted Children and Young People: A Grounded Theory Analysis
2023 · United Kingdom
Researchers analysed therapist process notes from three initial psychotherapy sessions for each of three adopted patients. Psychoanalytically informed grounded theory identified themes concerning setting, difficulties relating, changes in technique, non-verbal communication, mutual niceness, exclusion and deprivation.
Behavior patterns associated with institutional deprivation: a study of children adopted from Romania
2002 · United Kingdom (regional breakdown not specified)
Researchers studied rocking, self-injury, unusual sensory interests and eating difficulties in 144 children adopted from Romania into UK families. Rocking and self-injury became less common between arrival and age 6, while some sensory and eating difficulties remained. Time spent in institutional deprivation was the main factor associated with how common and persistent these behaviours were.
Behavior problems and mental health referrals of international adoptees: a meta-analysis
2005 · International
A meta-analysis bringing together research on behavioural problems and mental-health referrals among international adoptees. It was designed to estimate differences between international adoptees and comparison groups across a much larger evidence base than any single study. The included research was available up to early 2005; international adoption covers very different countries, pre-adoption experiences and adoptive contexts.
Being taken in: How can psychoanalytic psychotherapy lead to better relationships for an adopted child?
2013 · United Kingdom
A clinical case study examined psychotherapy with a nine-year-old adopted boy and the relationship developing between child and therapist. The analysis interpreted patterns connected with earlier adversity and explored changes in emotional regulation and ways of relating within therapy.
Belonging and Permanence: Outcomes in long-term foster care and adoption
2010 · England
Researchers compared adoption and long-term foster care across seven English local authorities. The research included a census of 374 children, a survey covering 196 children, an earlier longitudinal subsample and interviews with 37 children and their carers. Just over one-third of adopted children and children in stable foster care had clinically significant emotional or behavioural difficulties on the questionnaire measure, with no significant difference between these groups. Children in unstable care had poorer emotional, behavioural and educational outcomes. Interviews also explored children’s belonging and relationships.
Benign and Malignant Outcomes in the Offspring of Females Exposed In Utero to Diethylstilbestrol (DES): An Update from the NCI Third Generation Study
2024 · United States
This update examined cancers and benign conditions in offspring of women exposed to DES before birth. It found little evidence of increased overall cancer risk in the third generation so far. Estimates for borderline ovarian cancer and male overall cancer were imprecise, and participants remained relatively young.
Better Futures: Giving adopted young people an equal chance in further education
2020 · United Kingdom
Six adoptees aged 16–25 were interviewed and 76 adopted people aged 16 and over completed a survey about education. Participants described difficult school experiences, barriers to suitable college courses and uneven access to support. Some described supportive staff and settings. The report analyses transitions into further education and reasons for interrupted study.
Beyond the Adoption Order: challenges, intervention, disruption
2014 · England, UK
A major DfE study of post-order disruption and families in serious difficulty. Formal disruption was relatively uncommon overall, but severe difficulties and unmet support needs could emerge, particularly as children grew older.
Biases, concerns and the erosion of rights: Addressing digital issues with adopted and fostered children in a policy vacuum
2023 · United Kingdom
This paper analyses empirical material concerning professionals’ responses to adopted and fostered children’s use of digital technology. It describes a lack of training and policy direction, reliance on individual beliefs in safeguarding judgements, and difficulties working across stakeholders when addressing online risks and children’s rights.
Birth Outcomes in DES Children and Grandchildren: A Multigenerational National Cohort Study on Informative Families
2023 · France
Researchers selected 74 women with children born before, during and after DES treatment and eligible grandchildren. Premature births were reported in 2.7% of pre-treatment children, 14.9% of children exposed during pregnancy and 10.8% of children born after treatment. The design examined pregnancy duration and birthweight across generations.
Blood parenthood and the hierarchies of dispossession in English adoption cases, 1946–70
2026 · England
Using adoption cases, press coverage and medical, sociological and legal reports, this historical study examined changing definitions of child welfare between 1946 and 1970. The author argues that courts increasingly used medical opinion about children’s psychological welfare to justify adoption without parental consent, while some legal and philanthropic voices challenged coercive practices.