Mental health and behavioural difficulties in adopted children: A systematic review of post-adoption risk and protective factors
A systematic search of four research databases identified 52 studies examining post-adoption factors associated with adopted children’s mental health or behaviour. The review grouped relevant factors around parents, parent–child relationships and family context, considering their associations with children’s outcomes.
Limitations: The outcomes concern adoptees, although many underlying studies use parent proxy reports. The international literature is not an England/Wales-only sample. Associations, heterogeneous measures and overlapping primary studies limit causal interpretation; this review is not a new participant cohort. 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
- Systematic review
- Source reviewed
- Abstract
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Age group
- Children / Adolescents
Study context and review
Age group as recorded: Children / adolescents
Adoption context: Mixed adoption pathways
Programme: Not recorded
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: Evidence synthesis, mental health, Parent proxy evidence, post-adoption support
Review scope: Source checked: Abstract. This does not imply full-text or independent human verification.
Country as recorded: International (UK-led review)
- 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_ddb78ae859761306