Behavior patterns associated with institutional deprivation: a study of children adopted from Romania.
This study examined the prevalence and persistence of behaviors associated with institutional rearing in a sample of 144 children from Romania adopted by UK families. Patterns of rocking, self-injury, unusual sensory interests, and eating problems were assessed in children aged between a few weeks and 43 months who were adopted from institutional care. Forty-seven percent of the institutionally reared children rocked at the time of UK entry and 24% engaged in self-injurious behavior. By age 6 years, the percentages were 18% and 13%, respectively. Eleven percent of the children were displaying unusual sensory interests at the time of arrival, and at 6 years 13% of the children did so. Fifteen percent of the children were still experiencing difficulties with chewing and swallowing solid food at age 6 years. The primary factor affecting the prevalence and persistence of the behaviors was the length of time the children had spent in institutional deprivation.
Beckett
Celia
C
Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, London, United Kingdom. c.beckett@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Bredenkamp
Diana
D
Castle
Jenny
J
Groothues
Christine
C
O'Connor
Thomas G
TG
Rutter
Michael
M
D000300:Adoption; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007326:Institutionalization; D008297:Male; D011610:Psychosocial Deprivation; D012383:Romania; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology*