Early adolescent outcomes of institutionally-deprived and non-deprived adoptees. II: language as a protective factor and a vulnerable outcome

Early adolescent outcomes of institutionally-deprived and non-deprived adoptees. II: language as a protective factor and a vulnerable outcome

Carla Croft, Celia Beckett, Michael Rutter, Jenny Castle, Emma Colvert, Christine Groothues, Amanda Hawkins, Jana Kreppner, Suzanne E Stevens, Edmund J S Sonuga-Barke · Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines

Researchers compared language and cognitive development at ages 6 and 11 in 132 Romanian children adopted after institutional care and 49 early-placed UK adoptees. Longer deprivation was associated with poorer language and cognitive outcomes, although duration beyond six months did not show a simple linear relationship. Among children arriving after 18 months, even limited speech imitation at arrival predicted better later language and cognitive outcomes, but not social or emotional outcomes.

Limitations: This concerns a historical cohort exposed to extreme Romanian institutional deprivation, followed after adoption into UK families. It does not represent adoption generally or establish that adoption caused the difficulties. Publications from this cohort use overlapping participants; regional coverage is not separately specified in the abstract. This uses developmental assessments; limited variation among adoptive families restricts conclusions about parental influences.

Research type

Longitudinal cohort study

Source reviewed

Abstract

Peer reviewed

Yes

Age group

Children