The role of theory of mind in the emotional, behavioural and communicative functioning of adopted adolescents
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.
Limitations: The small volunteer sample and convenience comparison cannot establish causal effects. Parent questionnaires measure perceived child outcomes, not adoptees’ own views. Some disabilities were excluded, limiting generalisation. Recruitment through services and schools does not establish government commissioning.
- Research type
- Doctoral thesis
- Source reviewed
- Full text
- Peer reviewed
- No
- Age group
- Adolescents
Study context and review
Age group as recorded: Adolescents
Adoption context: Mixed adoption pathways
Programme: Not recorded
Institutional context: No relationship identified in the material checked
No adoption-sector organisational relationship identified from metadata reviewed. Funding and conflicts were not comprehensively audited; this is not confirmation of institutional independence.
Bibliographic screening. Bibliographic relationships are not a bias or safety rating.
Topics: adolescence, communication, mental health, Parent proxy evidence
Review scope: Source checked: Full text. This does not imply full-text or independent human verification.
Country as recorded: United Kingdom
- Funding
- Not yet checked for this entry
- Commissioner
- Not yet checked for this entry
- Funder role
- Not yet checked for this entry
- Declared conflicts
- Not yet checked for this entry
- Recruitment
- Not yet checked for this entry
- Adoptee involvement
- Not yet checked for this entry
Entry: study_1aa79b16d399cb50