Romanian orphan studies and institutionalisation

• institutionalisation 


  effect of institutional care (being raised in orphanage) - effects of time spent in institution on development of children - may lead to social, mental and physical underdevelopment and effects may be irreversible
• Rutter Romanian orphan study - aim and method


  AIM - to test whether good care could make up for poor earlier experiences in institutions in longitudinal study of Romanian orphans

  MEHTOD - followed 165 Roman orphans adopted in Britain testing them at regular intervals to assess physical, cognitive and social development - 52 British children adopted around same time served as control group - physical, cognitive and emotional development assessed at ages 4, 6, 11 and 15
• Rutter Romanian orphan study - findings 


  FINDINGS - when first moved to UK half showed signs of mental retardation and most under nourished - age 11 showed differential rates of recovery related to age of adoption - mean IQ adopted before 6 months = 102, between 6 months and 2 years = 86, after 2 years = 77 - attachment difference related to adoption before or after 6 months, after six showed disinhibited attachment (clingy, attention seeking towards familiar and unfamiliar adults), above 6 rarely displayed this attachment
• Rutter Romanian orphan study - conclusion


  sever long term effects of institutionalisation but can be avoided if child is able to form an attachment before 6 months
• La Mere Romanian orphan study


  longitudinal study of 36 Romanian orphans adopted to families in Canada focusing on physical growth and health - found adopted orphans were physically smaller than control group at age 4.5 but difference disappeared by 10.5 years old - same found for physical health - concluded recovery possible from effects of institutionalisation on physical development
• ORPHAN STUDIES EVALUATION - practical application 


  improved way children are cared for in institutions - e.g. orphanages and children's homes now avoid having large numbers of caregivers for each child and instead ensure perhaps only one or two play central role for child (key worker) - research has been immensely valuable in improving children's lives in real world
• ORPHAN STUDIES EVALUATION - praised for studying long term effects


  because they conducted longitudinal studies which followed children's lives for years, results can reflect long term effects - e.g. Rutter assessed children at 11 and 16 to measure intellectual and emotional effects of institutional care over time - helped further our understanding of how early institutional care effects ongoing development
• ORPHAN STUDIES EVALUATION - lack control over conditions in orphanages

  studies all measured age that children were adopted and development in later life but doesn't account fro different levels of care different children might have experienced before adoption - e.g. Rutter suggested some children may have received special attention in institution maybe because they smiled more meaning they had early attachment experiences - lacks internal validity
• ORHAN STUDIES EVALUATION - criticised for attrition

  study was longitudinal meaning some people likely to drop out resulting in reduction in sample at each assessment - e.g. in Rutter and La Mere's research may be that more troubled children drop out and effects of institutionalisation on children not observed - results in based sample, those who drop out likely to be a particular type of person
• effects of institutionalisation - disinhibited attachment 


  individuals who have been raise in institutional care equally friendly and affectionate towards people they know well or strangers - highly unusual behaviour as most people develop stranger anxiety - symptoms = attention seeking and clinginess - behaviours viewed as adaption to living with multiple caregivers during critical period for attachment formation
• DISINHIBITED ATTACHMENT EVALUATION - Rutter


  found Romanian orphans adopted by British families after 6 months in orphanage showed signs of attention seeking, clinginess and indiscriminate behaviour towards familiar or unfamiliar adults (unlike orphans adopted before 6 months)
• DISINHIBITED ATTACHMENT EVALUATION - practical applications

  studying orphans improved way children cared for in institutions - e.g. orphanages avoid having large numbers of caregivers for each child and instead ensure perhaps only one or two play a central role for child - valuable in improving children's lives and helping prevent problems with disinhibited attachment
• effects of institutionalisation - poor intellectual development 


  e.g. institutionalised children may show lower IQ score than average or show severe problems with intellect and be classed as mentally retarded - can impact all aspects of life but there is debate over whether they are long term or short term
• POOR INTELLECT EVALUATION - Rutter 


  half Romanian orphans showed signs of mental retardation upon first arrival in UK - at age 11 mean IQ of children adopted at 6 months was 102, compared to 86 for those adopted after 2 years and differences remained at 16 - early institutional careen impact on intellectual development of children over number of years
• POOR INTELLECT EVALUATION - long term effects not clear


  although Rutter followed children over a number of years too soon to say with any certainty whether the effects shown are long term or not - e.g. may be showing lower than average IQ may catch up as adults - current research may be misleading
• effects of institutionalisation - physical underdevelopment effect


  e.g. children usually physically smaller and research has shown lack of emotional care rather than poor nourishment leads to underdevelopment - production of growth hormones affected by severe emotional disturbance resulting in physical underdevelopment
• PHYSICAL UNDERDEVELOPMENT EVALUATION - La Mere

  found Romanian orphans adopted in Canada physically smaller than control group at age 4 and a half but this difference disappeared by age 10.5 - same found for physical health - supports idea recovery is possible from effects of institutionalisation on physical development