Early years adversity, adoption and adulthood: conceptualising long-term outcomes
Researchers assessed 72 women adopted from Hong Kong orphanages into British families in the 1960s, roughly 45 years later. Interviews and questionnaires covered health, relationships, achievements, identity and wellbeing. Compared with 1958 birth-cohort data, the women differed little on the measures used. The paper also examines what midlife measures may miss.
Limitations: A surviving female historical cohort cannot represent all intercountry adoptees. Comparison groups and questionnaire choice affect interpretation; non-random adoption prevents causal claims. Only the publisher-deposited abstract was reviewed; regional coverage and additional methods are not inferred where unstated. Related programme publications may use overlapping participants; these are separate publications, not independent replications. UK research context does not confirm an exclusively England/Wales sample. Publication relationship: this research was published by BAAF or in its Adoption & Fostering journal, now associated with CoramBAAF, an adoption-sector organisation. Publication does not establish that the organisation conducted the research; readers may take the institutional relationship into account.
- Research type
- Longitudinal follow-up / methodological analysis
- Source reviewed
- Abstract
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Age group
- Adults
Study context and review
Age group as recorded: adults
Adoption context: Intercountry adoption from Hong Kong orphanages
Programme: British Chinese Adoption Study
Institutional context: Adoption-sector advocacy/service organisation
Publication relationship: this research was published by BAAF or in its Adoption & Fostering journal, now associated with CoramBAAF, an adoption-sector organisation. Publication does not establish that the organisation conducted the research; readers may take the institutional relationship into account.
Relationship identified. Bibliographic relationships are not a bias or safety rating.
Topics: adult outcomes, ageing, identity, mental health, research methodology
Review scope: Source checked: Abstract. This does not imply full-text or independent human verification.
Country as recorded: United Kingdom research context (sample geography not specified in abstract)
- 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_6d715e22308cc41a