Emotional difficulties in early adolescence following severe early deprivation: findings from the English and Romanian adoptees study

Emotional difficulties in early adolescence following severe early deprivation: findings from the English and Romanian adoptees study

Colvert E, Rutter M, Beckett C, Castle J, Groothues C, Hawkins A, Kreppner J, O'connor TG, Stevens S, Sonuga-Barke EJ · Development and psychopathology

This follow-up compared emotional and conduct difficulties at ages six and eleven among Romanian-born adoptees and UK domestic adoptees. Emotional difficulties increased in the Romanian group and were more common at eleven than among domestic adoptees; conduct problems did not show the same increase. Earlier neurodevelopmental difficulties were associated with later emotional problems but did not fully account for their emergence.

Limitations: The study tested possible pathways but did not establish a single causal explanation for later emotional difficulties. This cohort experienced extreme early institutional deprivation and does not represent adoptees generally. Participants overlap with other ERA publications. Evidence-provider note: adoptive parents supplied some or all questionnaire/interview assessments of the adoptee’s outcomes. These proxy reports are not the adoptee’s own account; other evidence sources, where present, are described in the summary.

Research type

Longitudinal comparative cohort study

Source reviewed

Abstract

Peer reviewed

Yes

Age group

Children / Adolescents