adoption Flashcards
negatives of adoption
attachment issues
behavioural issues=
age of adoption as a mediating factor
Success’ linked to child age at adoption (Pryor, 2004)
Julien et al 2013- For most outcomes, institutionalization beyond a certain age is associated with a step-like increase in risk for lasting social and behavioral problems, with the step occurring at an earlier age for children who experienced more severe levels of deprivation.
Whether adoption is a disruption in a child’s life depends, in part, on the child’s age and experiences at the time of adoption. As mammals, we have evolved to respond well to the marked disruption of being born. Likewise, in the first few months of life there is little evidence that a shift in caregiving arrangements produces detectable adverse effects later in development. Perhaps the best evidence of this comes from studies of children adopted from conditions of deprivation in institutions in the first few months of life.
Across a large range of measures, cognitive, social, emotional and physiological, no differences were noted between those children and children born and raised in their birth families (see review, Gunnar & Reid, 2019)
positives
Access to parenthood for mother/father
* Powerful intervention for adoptees
* Improved intelligence & school performance (van
Ijzendoom & Juffer, 2005)
* ‘Success’ linked to child age at adoption (Pryor, 2004)
van ljzendoom et al., 2006- It presents findings from empirical studies and meta-analyses of over 270 studies involving more than 230,000 adopted and non-adopted children and their parents.
Key Takeaways:
Adoption Catch-Up Model: Adopted children generally show significant developmental catch-up compared to their peers left behind, though the catch-up is incomplete in some areas (especially physical growth and attachment).
Early Adoption Matters: Children adopted before 12 months of age tend to experience more complete catch-up across multiple developmental domains.
Plasticity of Child Development: The study suggests that human development is highly adaptable, and adoption plays a role in demonstrating this adaptability
attatchment
The ability of adopted children to form secure attachments with their new parents depends largely on their pre-adoption experiences.
Children from institutional care (such as orphanages), who have had multiple caregivers and no consistent attachment figure, may not have formed a strong bond with anyone. However, research shows that once placed in a stable home, they can develop secure attachments quickly (Zeanah, Smyke, Koga, & Carlson, 2005; Carlson, Hostinar, Mliner, & Gunnar, 2014).
Children from foster care, especially those who have faced abuse or repeated disruptions in attachment, may struggle more with forming secure bonds. They can develop attachment disorders, which can lead to emotional and behavioral difficulties (Zeanah et al., 2004). A study in England found that children’s pre-adoption adversity strongly influenced their later outcomes, and distress when separated from foster parents also contributed to future challenges (Neil, Morciano, & Hartley, 2020).
Secure attachment is important because it supports many aspects of child development, particularly executive function (EF) skills—which help with self-control, attention, memory, and problem-solving (Bernier, Carlson, & Whipple, 2010; Zelazo, 2020).
Early deprivation, trauma, and abuse can harm EF skills, leading to difficulties in social interactions (such as inappropriate responses to strangers), attention regulation, emotional control, and academic performance (van IJzendoorn et al., 2020; Wretham & Woolgar, 2017).
These difficulties can persist even after children are placed in nurturing environments and can increase their risk for mental health disorders (Wade, Zeanah, Fox, & Nelson, 2020). Some children struggle with relationships, school, and developmental milestones, which can lead to issues like depression in adolescence and adulthood (Golm et al., 2020).
environment
Based on Bronfenbrenner’s (2005) ecological systems model of development, Palacios (2009) emphasized the importance of considering the context or ecology within which people develop to better understand the impact that being adopted has on them. including the society or culture within which the adoption occurred (macrosystem), the proximal community and professional interventions that impact the adopted person indirectly through its influence on parents and other caregivers (exosystem), the environments in which the adoptee spends most of their time such as family, peer group, and school (microsystem), as well as the dynamic interplay among these microsystems (mesosystem) and the changes in the environments and the person over time (chronosystem).
for example one way in which culture can affect adoption- In racially or ethnically homogenous societies, transracial adoptees (children adopted by parents of a different race or ethnicity) may struggle to find others who share their background.
They may face discrimination, bias, or microaggressions related to their race, ethnicity, or adoptive status (Baden, 2016; Riley-Behringer et al., 2014).
These challenges can make it harder for them to develop a strong, healthy sense of identity and emotional well-being.
Alternatively, to adopt in the UK parents have to undergo training which can promote good environments
basically, its so complicated and studies often do not control for culture or SES
fostering-
Fostering can have negatives impacts, especially as children move around a lot more than if they were adopted
However it can act as a buffer of social support, especially when the foster parents are involved and caring
Frequent Placement Changes: Children in foster care often experience multiple placements, leading to disrupted relationships and potential difficulties in forming stable attachments.
RESEARCHGATE.NET
Positive Aspects:
Buffering Social Support: When foster parents are actively involved and supportive, they can mitigate the effects of parenting stress, enhancing the overall well-being of both the child and the caregiver
jones et al., 2014
also can be so challenging- can be extremely challenging
* Often caring for maltreated or neglected children
* Typical parenting features plus unique ones
* Parents may not do it for long (Rhodes et al., 2001)
