romanian orphan studies

• Institutionalisation is the effect growing up/living in an institution has on someone.
• Rutter et al (ERA study):

  • aimed to see if good care would make up for the poor care children experienced in orphanages
  • 165 romanian orphan ppts, who were adopted by UK families, were followed for years
  • emotional, cognitive and physical development were assessed from the ages of 4-25. Compared to CG from UK
  • when the orphans moved to the UK, they had delayed development. The orphans showed signs of recovery by age 11. This development was based on the age of adoption
  • children adopted before 6 months: no disinhibited attachment
  • children adopted after 6 months: disinhibited attachment
• Zeanah et al (BEI stuudy):

  • sample of 95 romanian orphans who spent most of their childhood in institutions. Used a control group who had never been in an institution
  • assessed the attachment type through the strange situation
  • 19% of romanian orphans = secure attachment, compared to 74% of the control group
  • 44% of romanian orphans = disinhibited attachment, compared to 20% of the control group
• Effects of institutionalisation:

  • disinhibited attachment: people do not specifically attach to one person, they are equally affectionate to all people. (supported by Zeanah & Rutter)
  • intellectual disability: slower psychological development than the average person. (supported by Rutter)
• AO3:

  • RWA: improved living conditions in orphanages. Children have key workers so they can attach. RAS have use & develop attachment.
  • no extraneous variables. The romanian orphans were put in institutions from loving families - no prior issues that could have influenced their attachment. Increased validity. HOWEVER, conditions in these orphanages were poor and don't represent other orphanages. Can't generalise findings to institutionalisation.
  • orphans were only researched until 20s. More developments happen after early 20s. Findings don't represent full effects of institutionalisation.