Infant domestic adoption: outcomes at mid-life

Infant domestic adoption: outcomes at mid-life

Sehmi R, Rushton A, Pickles A, Grant M, Maughan B · Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines

Researchers compared infant-adopted members of the 1958 and 1970 British birth cohorts with people raised by two birth parents and nonadopted people from similar circumstances at birth. At mid-life, physical health and wellbeing differed little between groups. Psychological distress was generally similar to population comparisons. Externalising outcomes were higher than population comparisons but similar to birth-circumstance comparisons, with prenatal and childhood circumstances contributing to differences.

Limitations: Historical infant adoptions do not represent present-day adoption from care. Observational comparison groups and selective follow-up limit causal interpretation. Mid-life findings do not establish outcomes in older age. The 1958 cohort overlaps with other NCDS adoption publications. One coauthor was affiliated to Adoption and Fostering Alliance Scotland, an adoption-sector organisation; other authors were affiliated to NatCen or academic institutions. This identifies an author affiliation rather than sole organisational authorship. Readers may take that relationship into account.

Research type

Longitudinal comparative cohort study

Source reviewed

Abstract

Peer reviewed

Yes

Age group

Adults