title: Preadoption adversity and long-term clinical-range behavior problems in adopted Chinese girls.
abstract: In this study, we report findings on the role of preadoption adversity on long-term clinical-range problems in adopted Chinese girls. Four waves (2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011) of problem behavior data on 1,223 adopted Chinese girls (M = 4.86 years, SD = 2.82 in 2005) were collected from the adoptive mothers with the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). At Wave 1 (2005), data on the following indicators of preadoption adversity was collected: age at adoption, physical signs/symptoms (e.g., sores) of preadoption adversity, developmental delays at arrival, refusal/avoidance behaviors and crying/clinging behaviors toward adoptive parents during the first 3 weeks of adoption. We found that the percentage of clinical-range internalizing problems was 11.1%, 16.5%, 11.3%, and 16.1% at Wave 1, Wave 2, Wave 3, and Wave 4, respectively; the corresponding percentage of clinical-range externalizing problems was 8.4%, 10.5%, 8.4% and 9.9% respectively; and the corresponding percentage of clinical-range total CBCL problems was 9.3%, 13.0%, 9.8% and 12.6% respectively. Analyses with Mplus showed that controlling for demographic variables, indicators of preadoption adversity, except age at adoption, increased the odds for clinical-range behavior problems. Longitudinal path models revealed that controlling for demographic variables and the children's adjustment status in the previous wave, refusal/avoidance remained significant in predicting clinical-range internalizing, externalizing and total CBCL problems at Wave 2, delays at arrival and signs/symptoms were significant in predicting clinical-range internalizing problems at Wave 3. Overall, adoptees with clinical-range CBCL problems in earlier waves were 9-28 times as likely to show clinical-range CBCL problems in subsequent waves.
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational and Psychological Studies, University of South Florida.
authors.forename: Tony Xing
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9496-3470
authors.initials: TX
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, DePaul University.
authors.forename: Linda A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Camras
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational and Psychological Studies, University of South Florida.
authors.forename: Eun Sook
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000300:Adoption / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003448:Crying / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000066553:Problem Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology