Institutionalisation

• Rutter and Sonuga-Barke (2010)

  ERA study, 165 Romanian orphans, 111 before age 2, 54 by age 4, tested physically, cognitively, and socially ages 4, 6, 11, 15, control group 52 British adoptees, all children institutionalised past 6 months of age malnourished and deficit in most aspects, most type D, if children form attachments later most is reversible, some effects far worse if no attachment formed 
• Le Mare and Audet (2006)

  longitudinal study, 39 Romanian orphans adopted in Canada, all adoptees physically smaller than control group before 4.5 yrs, caught up by 10yrs
• Zeanah et al (2005)

  136 Romanian orphans, spent 90% of life institutionalised, compared to control Romanians, never institutionalised, all 12-31 months, assessed in SS, all orphans showed signs of type D
• Main effects of institutionalisation

  Physical underdevelopment, intellectual underfunctioning, disinhibited attachment, Poor parenting
• Children have individual differences, in all studies strength of affect vary for each child

  • Rutter suggests may be due to special attention from institution maybe due to smiling more, so they did experience early attachments
• Research used to improve child care, shows importance of early adoption, mothers previously encouraged to nurse baby before giving up for adoption (by time of adoption sensitive period may have passed), his most babies adopted within week of birth - become as securely attached as non adoptees (Singer et al 1985)
• Shows longitudinal study importance, studies take long time but benefits large
• Deprivation only one factor, orphanage conditions appalling, impacted health, lack of cognitive stimulation (kept in cribs all day) stunted intellectual growth

  • likely that effects of institutionalisation only damaging when multiple risk factors combine, many adoptees also having parental problems and bad home life even after adoption (Turner and Lloyd 1995)
• Effects of institutionalisation may disappear over time with quality emotional care, by age 11 (ERA) less type D attachment found, ex orphans may just need longer time to mature, criticism of research as shows effects reversible, supported by Le Mare and Audet