Effects of institutionalisation (Romania) Flashcards
(11 cards)
What is institutionalisation
The effects of living in an institutional setting (e.g. orphanage) where children live for a long period of time with little emotional care to be provided
What is Orphan studies
The use children who have been placed in care because their parents cannot look after them. Parents may have died or abandoned them permanently
What was the aims of Rutter et als study and what was it called
ERA (English and Romanian adoptee)
Aim = to asses the effects of institutionalisation on development
What was Rutter et al. sample and method
(procedure)
Sample - 165 Romanian orphans.
- 1/3 were adopted in the UK by 6 months
-1/3 were adopted in the UK by 2yrs old
- 1/3 were adopted in the UK between ages 2-4
Method - Longitudinal study. Assessed the physical, social and cognitive development and had interviews with parents and teachers regarding this.
What are the findings of rutters er al. ERA study
More time spent in the orphanage increases the likelihood or intellectual under functioning and disinhibited attachment
. Intellectual under functioning =
- Adopted before 6 months (IQ102)
- Adopted between 6 months - 2 years (IQ86)
- Adopted after 2 years (IQ77)
. Disinhibited attachment = Where children are equally friendly/affectionate towards people they don’t know (inappropriate social behaviour). This was seen in children adopted after 6 months
What was the conclusion on Rutter et al ERA study
Romanian institutional care negatively affected development (intellectual and emotional)
more time spent in the orphanage the higher likelihood of intellectual under functioning and disinhibited attachment
What are the effects of institutionalisation and explain
. Physical underdevelopment - restricted growth, Twisted legs
. Intellectual under functioning - Adopted before 6 months (IQ 102), Adopted between 6 months -2years (IQ 86), Adopted between 2-4 years (IQ 77)
. Disinhibited attachment - Children are equally as friendly affectionate towards familiar people and strangers. Due to experiencing up to 50 carers a day.
. Internal working model - If the child did not have a secure attachment during the critical period they would have no/little internal working model. Affects relationships with peers, adopted parents in childhood and adult life.
How would you evaluate the effects of institutionalisation
- Romanian orphan studies have real-life application
- Romanian orphanages are not typical
- Ethical implications: socially sensitive
How would you evaluate the effects of institutionalisation
(Romanian orphan studies have real-life application)
Romanian orphan studies have enhanced our understanding of the effects of institutionalisation.
- We can reduce effects such as disinhibited attachment in looked-after children e.g. children in the care system by having one or two ‘key workers’ who platy a central role in the child’s emotional care meaning an attachment can be made
- Also institutional care is now seen as undesirable meaning more considerable efforts are made for the children to be fostered care or adopted.
How would you evaluate the effects of institutionalisation
(Romanian orphanages are not typical)
It is possible that conditions in orphanages were so bad that results cannot be generalised to other institutions
- Romanian orphans are an atypical sample as they are particularly poor conditions where children are looked after by over 50 carers a day and often don’t leave their cots/room all day
- Not representative of all institutional settings so cannot be generalised
How would you evaluate institutionalisation
(Ethical implications : socially sensitive)
Socially sensitive as the results show that late adopted children typically have poor developmental outcomes
- These results were published as the children have been growing up meaning parents, teachers and anyone else who may have knew the children might have lowered their expectations of them and treated these children differently meaning they couldn’t reach their full potential
- On the other hand, these children could get the help they need due to their data being understood and published so many different plans can be put in place by teachers/parents etc
