Romanian Orphans

• Two strengths of the Romanian orphan studies is:

  • Longitudinal study
  • Real world application
• Effects of institutionalisation include:

  • Disinhibited attachment (equally friendly to family & strangers)
  • Intellectual disability
• The findings of Zeanah et Als study into Romanian orphans was that 19% of the institutional group was securely attached, compared to 74% of the control group. 44% of the institutional group had disinhibited attachment, compared to less than 20% of the control group
• The procedure of Zeanah et Al's study on Romanian Orphans was:

  • Assessed attachment in 95 Romanian children aged 12-31 months
  • Control group: 50 children never in institutions
  • Attachment type measured using Strange Situation
  • Carers asked about unusual social behaviour
• The two psychologists that made studies about Romanian Orphans were:

  • Rutter et al
  • Zeanah et al
• What was the procedure of Rutter et Al's Romanian orphan study?

  • Rutter and colleagues followed 165 Romanian orphans
  • Orphans adopted by family in UK
  • Aim: investigate how much good care could make up for poor early experiences in institutions
  • Physical, cognitive and emotional development assessed at 4, 6, 11, 15, 22, 25
  • Control group: 52 children in UK adopted around same time
• What were the findings of Rutter Et Al's Romanian orphan study?

  • Half adoptees showed sign of delayed intellectual development and malnourishment
  • Age 11: showed differences in IQ depending on age of adoption
  • Before 6 months old: 102
  • 6 months-2years : 86
  • 2 years+ : 77
  • Difference remained at age 16
  • ADHD more common
  • Attachment types depending on age adopted: 6 months+ signs of disinhibited attachment, before 6 months rarely any signs of disinhibited attachment
• The two limitations of the Romanian Orphan study were:

  • Social sensitivity
  • High drop out rates