Adversity and Adjustment in Children in Institutions, Family Foster Care, and Adoption

The main aim of this study was to identify the adversity profiles of children in different childcare placements, and to analyse the relationship with their subsequent psychological adjustment. The sample consisted of 230... [ view full abstract ]

The main aim of this study was to identify the adversity profiles of children in different childcare placements, and to analyse the relationship with their subsequent psychological adjustment. The sample consisted of 230 children aged 4 to 10 years who were in different child protection placements (institutional care, non-kin foster care, kinship care and intercountry adoption), as well as a comparable control group. Information was collected from parent or caregiver interviews and with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).
The results showed that children in the child welfare system had experienced significant adversity before their current placement, accumulating a considerable number of risk factors, especially among institutional care cases and international adoptees. Children in kinship care had experienced less adversity. After a period of time in their respective placements, children’s psychological adjustment was generally positive, but those living in institutional care exhibited the most problems and difficulties, followed by the non-kin foster care subjects. Finally, the degree of children’s early adversity, the initial age of current placement and its duration were found to be all related with children’s current psychological adjustment.
These results are discussed and compared with those obtained in previous research in Spain and elsewhere, with a high level of consistency. The results of the study also suggest diverse directions for professional intervention in child protection.