Report on a Longitudinal Research Project, Exploring the Development of Attachments between Older, Hard-To-Place Children and Their Adopters over the First Two Years of Placement

Report on a Longitudinal Research Project, Exploring the Development of Attachments between Older, Hard-To-Place Children and Their Adopters over the First Two Years of Placement

Jeanne Kaniuk, Miriam Steele, Jill Hodges · Adoption & Fostering

This report describes a two-year study of 63 children adopted at ages 4–8 into 42 families after separation, neglect or abuse. A comparison group comprised 48 children adopted before 12 months. Researchers examined child attachment and psychological development, adopter attachment measures and school progress. The reviewed abstract outlines the study but does not report the direction or size of its findings.

Limitations: Child assessments, adopter measures and school information represent different evidence providers. The comparison groups differed in early experiences. The abstract does not support a summary of outcome results. This report overlaps with later programme publications. A coauthor was affiliated with Coram, an organisation providing adoption services. This identifies an institutional relationship, not evidence of bias or that Coram commissioned every component. Readers may consider this relationship when interpreting the findings.

Research type

Longitudinal study

Source reviewed

Abstract

Peer reviewed

Yes

Age group

Children