Research into institutional care

Research into institutional care

1. RUTTER ET AL. (1998)

   • Over 100 Romanian oprhans adopted in the UK before 2 y/o
   • At first, children were undersized
     • But by 4 y/o they were physically normal
   • Negative correlation between age of adoption and development
     • The later the children were adopted, the slower their progress
       • The longer children experience emotional deprivation, the longer it will take for them to recover
   • Recovery from emotional deprivation is very much possible, but how long it takes will vary depending on the length of deprivation

2. QUINTON ET AL. (1985)

   • Investigated ex-institutional women
   • Found that the women had extreme difficulties with parenting
     • Children were more frequently in care; less sensitive; less supportive (compared to a control group of non-institutionalized women)
   • Lack of parenting abilities may NOT be due to early privation caused by being placed in an institution
   • Lack of parenting abilities may be due to having inadequate guidance to parenting
     • Less able to cope as mothers

3. RUTTER ET AL. (2007)

   • Group of Romanian orphans assessed at 4, 6, and 11 years
     • Orphans had experienced extreme physical and emotional deprivation before being adopted
   • Children adopted before age of 6 months have shown normal levels of development
   • Children adopted after age of 6 months showed disinhibited attachments and had problems with peers
   • Long-term consequences of privation may not be as severe if children are able to form attachments within a set time period (6 months)