Roman orphan studies effects of Institutionalisation

• What is institutionalisation?

  • A term for the effects of living in an institutional setting. 
  • In attachment we are interested in the effects of institutional care (e.g. orphanage) on children’s attachment and development.
  • The possible effects include: social, mental and physical underdevelopment. 
  • Some of these effects may be irreversible.
• Rutter & Songua-Barke (2010) - ERA (English and Romanian Adoptee) Study

  Rutter & Songua-Barke's Study on Early Institutional procedure 

  • Followed 165 Romanian orphans since 1990s.

  • Assessed physical, cognitive, and emotional development at ages 4, 6, 11, and 15.

  • Control group consisted of 52 British children adopted at the same time.
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  Findings

  • Romanian orphans lack physical, cognitive, and social development.

  • Show signs of mental retardation and severe undernutrition.

  • Recovery rates linked to adoption age.

  • Most adopted before 6 months catch up with British adoptees.

  • Significant deficits in institutional care beyond 6 months.

  • Many adopted after 6 months have peer relationships problems.

  • Disinhibited attachment observed due to lack of sufficient carers in institutions. - overfriendlieness
• Other studies of Romanian Orphans

  Procedure

  • Zeenah et al. (2005) compared 136 Romanian children who had, on average, spent 90% of their lives in an institution to a control group of Romanian children who had never been in an institution.
  • The children were 12-31 months and were assessed using the Strange Situation.
• Other studies of Romanian Orphans

  Findings

  • Institutionalised group: 
  • 19% securely attached 
  • 44% disinhibited attachment
  • Control group: 
  • 74% securely attached 
  • < 20% disinhibited attachment
• Effects of Institutionalisation on Children

  • Physical underdevelopment: Children in institutions often have small physical stature due to deprivation dwarfism.

  • Intellectual underfunctioning: Emotional deprivation impacts cognitive development.

  • Disinhibited attachment: Children exhibit equal friendliness towards familiar and unfamiliar individuals, often overfriending strangers.

  • Poor parenting: Women reared in institutions face significant difficulties in their 20s as parents.
• AO3:

  • criticisms - individual differences if children may play an important role

  • although some research suggests that individuals who do not form primary attachment within early sensitive period unable to recover this is not true for all children experiencing institutionalisation

  • Some children may not recover as strongly from institutionalisation as others.

  • Rutter suggests that some children recieved Special attention in institutions

  • suggests that Findings of institutionalisation research are not universal, and some children may recover from negative effects.
• Real-life Applications of Institutionalisation Research - strength 

  • Research into institutionalisation can improve the lives of children in care.

  • Early adoption is crucial, as traditional mothers were encouraged to nurse the baby for a long time.

  • Today, most babies are adopted within the first week of birth, demonstrating secure attachments between adopted mothers and children.

  • Institutionalisation research can significantly improve the lives of children.
• Longitudinal Studies in Institutionalisation Research - strength 

  • Institutionalisation research often includes longitudinal studies.

  • Rutter and Songua-Barke's studies follow children's lives over years.

  • These studies require extensive planning and time for results.

  • They show effects of institutional care may disappear with high-quality care.

  • Longitudinal studies validate the effect of institutionalisation.
• Critique of Romanian Orphan Studies

  • Deprivation is a single factor in Romanian orphan studies.

  • Physical conditions and lack of cognitive stimulation also impact orphans' health.

  • Multiple risk factors may have caused damage.

  • suggest that Researchers should interpret studies cautiously due to multiple potential factors.