Romanian orphans study

• Define an institution

  A place that takes care of children, the mentally ill or others in need of help
• What was the aim of the study?

  To study the long term effects of institutionalisation on attachment
• What was the method of the study?

  165 Romanian Orphans were studied and tested at 4,6,11 and 15 to assess their physical, cognitive and social development
• Comparison to control group

  Their progress was compared to a group of 52 British children adopted before 6 months old
• Stats of when Romanian Orphans were adopted

  111 adopted before age of 2

  54 adopted before age of 4
• What were the findings of the study?

  At the time of adoption, the Romanian Orphans were behind the British control group for all 3 types of development
• Extra findings

  They were smaller and cognitively behind

  By age 4 some of the Romanian Orphans had caught up

  The long term consequences were worse if they were adopted after 6 months