Orphan Studies

• Institutionalisation is the effects of living in an institutional setting
• An institution is a place like a hospital or an orphanage where people live for long, continuous periods of time
• Rutter et al. (2007)- Romanian Orphans:

  Aim: investigate effects of privation on children who were privated of care

  Sample: 165 children who spent early years in Romanian orphanage; 111 adopted before 2 y/o, other adopted before 4 y/o; compared to control of 52 British children adopted from British orphanages

  Method: longitudinal study of naturally occurring phenomenon; followed group of Romanian children adopted by British families; groups adopted before 6m, 24m or 48m; children assessed at 4, 6 and 11 y/o
• Rutter et al. (2007)- Romanian Orphans:

  Results: Children adopted before 6m developed normally w/ control -Children adopted after 6m showed disinhibited attachment (attachment w/ any adult rather than maintaining one w/ primary caregiver); problems forming peer relationships

  Effects of privation can be overcome if attachment is formed within 6m

  Cognitive ability: adopted before 6m had no cognitive delay, 24m were 15IQ points being, 48m suffered from ‘mental retardation’ and 25IQ points behind
• Zeenah et al. (2005)- Bucharest early intervention project:

  Aim: investigate attachment type of children who spent most of their life in institutional care

  Method: 100 children (12-31m) who spent most life in institutions compared to control group, strange situation used; carers/ parents asked about aspects of infants’ behaviour e.g. clinging, attention seeking, appropriateness of behaviour towards adults (determining if disinhibited attachment disorder present)
• Zeenah et al. (2005)- Bucharest early intervention project:

  Results: 3/4 (74%) of control group classified as securely attached; 1/5 (19%) of experimental group deemed to have secure attachment, 2/3 (65%) appeared to have disinhibited attachment

  Conclusion: infants in institutional care from early years w/ absence of primary caregiver to provide consistent/ sensitive emotional caregiving are less likely to develop secure attachment, more likely to experience disinhibited attachment
• S- Rutter & Songua-Barke- Real-world Application:

  Study helped change social services childcare especially in adaption process. Historically, mothers encouraged to keep babies for substantial periods by which critical period for attachment passed. Now, infants adopted as early as 1 week old, Singer et al. (1985) states children are securely attached to adoptive mothers as biologically realted families. Highlights benefit of institutionalisation research to help improve lives of children
• S- Rutter & Songua-Barke: Longitudinal study:

  Research took place over many years, assessed short-term and long-term effects of institutionalisation. Results of research appear as good representation for effects of placement into institutional care and portraying results of receiving quality follow-on emotional caregiving in a timely manner
• W- Romanian orphans not typical:

  Possible that conditions of institutions were so bad that results cannot be applied to understanding impact of better quality in institutional care/ deprivation. Romanian orphans had poor standards of care in forming relationships. Unusual situational variables makes study lack generalisability. Not clear if children’s development in institutions has irreversible effects