The behavioral development of Korean children in institutional care and international adoptive families.
In this study, the authors compared the behavioral development of 4- to 8-year-old South Korean children placed in institutional care (n = 230) or adopted internationally (n = 382), with age of entry, parental status, reason for institutionalization, and postinstitutionalization parental contact as risk factors for institutionalized children. There was a placement effect of adoption and support for age of entry and parental status as risk factors. Relinquished children institutionalized before age 2 fared the poorest across groups. Children institutionalized after age 2 with deceased/unknown parents fared best among institutionalized children. Institutionalization due to family disruption was a risk for relinquished children only, whereas parental contact did not increase the risk for behavioral problems. The unique sample population and other limitations are discussed.
Lee
Richard M
RM
Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, 75 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. richlee@umn.edu
Seol
Kyoung Ok
KO
Sung
Miyoung
M
Miller
Matthew J
MJ
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000300:Adoption / Q000523:psychology*; D000367:Age Factors; D057189:Checklist; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002674:Child, Institutionalized / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D019372:Orphanages; D010290:Parents; D012737:Sex Factors