EXAMINING THE INFLUENCE OF PRE-ADOPTIVE RISK ON ATTACHMENT BEHAVIORS IN INTERNATIONALLY ADOPTED CHILDREN

Abstract

Children adopted internationally have often experienced adversity in the form of social neglect prior to adoption, often in the form of institutional care. Children who were in institutionalized care before adoption are at-risk for negative outcomes related to attachment formation and security. Removal from institutional care and experience with adoptive parents may help children overcome the impact of pre-adoptive experiences. The duration of previous adverse experiences may be important to the children’s developing attachments, however. The association between length of time children were institutionalized and secure attachment behaviors was examined. Results showed that children who were institutionalized for longer periods of time showed fewer secure attachment behaviors with their new caregivers than children institutionalized for shorter periods of time. Similar findings emerged when considering child age at adoption as the predictor variable.