Effects of Institutionalisation

What was the ERA and who investigated it?

Studied a group of 165 Romanian orphans adopted into the UK

Rutter et al. 2010

Why was it set up (x2)?

• For the department of health to know how to best support children

• To find out to what extent would recovery be possible when extremely depriving conditions in early life were followed by generally good conditions in middle childhood.

Groups in ERA study?

Group 1 - 165 Romanian orphans adopted in the UK

Group 2 - control group of 52 British children adopted before 6 months

when were children assessed?

4, 16, 11, 15 years old

results of ERA

those adopted quickly caught up w/ British children

catch up in physical growth + cognitive abilities was nearly complete at 4 years for children who came to the UK before 6 months

serious problems continued in minority adopted after the age of 6 months

6 effects of institutionalisation

• Quasi autism

• Inattention / overactivity

• cognitive impairment

• disinhibited attachment

• physical underdevelopment

• poor parenting

Quasi autism?

children had symptoms of autism, struggled understanding meaning of social context and had obsessive behaviours

inattention / overactivity?

children adopted after 6 months showed higher inattention and overactivity - found it difficult to concentrate or control impulses

cognitive impairment?

adopted before 6 months - mean IQ of 102 at eleven

adopted between 6 months and 2 years - mean IQ 86 at eleven

adopted after 2 years - mean IQ 77 at eleven

disinhibited attachment?

attachment disorder where a child has little to no fear of unfamiliar adults and may actively approach them

→ typically show signs of stranger anxiety + return to caregiver, but orphans showed a lack of weariness towards strangers and failed to return to their caregiver

physical underdevelopment?

children in institutional care are usually smaller due to a lack of emotional care.

poor parenting?

Quinton et al 1984

→ 50 women raised in institutions, 50 reared at home

• when women became parents, the ex-institutional women experienced extreme difficulties as parents, and children spent time in care

conclusion of ERA study?

• disinhibited attachment due to orphans being looked after by many different caregivers

• the effects of institutional deprivation are not fixed, can be reversed with a supportive and strong adoptive family