Long‐term foster care or adoption? The evidence examined
This literature review compared long-term fostering and adoption across several aspects of permanence and outcomes. Reviewed studies described greater emotional security, belonging and wellbeing among adopted young people than those in long-term foster care. The paper also examined placement breakdown and difficulties comparing the two pathways.
Limitations: The pathways involve different populations and selection processes; comparisons cannot establish that adoption itself causes better outcomes. Definitions and breakdown estimates varied. This is a review of prior evidence rather than a new cohort or exclusively direct adoptee testimony.
- Research type
- Research review
- Source reviewed
- Abstract
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Age group
- Mixed
Study context and review
Age group as recorded: Mixed
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: adult outcomes, belonging, Evidence synthesis, Placement stability
Review scope: Source checked: Abstract. This does not imply full-text or independent human verification.
Country as recorded: International / 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_d2c8946b40187569