Romanian orphan studies: effects of institutionalisation

• Romanian orphan studies: effects of institutionalisation

  Rutter's ERA (English and Romanian Adoptee) study

  Procedure - Rutter and colleagues (2011) have followed a group of 165 Romanian orphans adopted in Britain to test to what extent good care would make up for poor early experiences in institutions. Physical, cognitive and emotional development has been assessed at ages 4, 6, 11 and 15 years. Control group = 52 British children adopted around the same time.
• Romanian orphan studies: effects of institutionalisation 2

  Rutter's ERA (English and Romanian Adoptee) study 2

  Findings - When first arrived in UK, half of adoptees showed signs of delayed intellectual development and majority were severely undernourished. At age 11, the mean IQ of those adopted before 6 months was 102, compared w/ 86 for after six months, and 77 for after 2 years. Differences remained at age 16.
• Romanian orphan studies: effects of institutionalisation 3

  Rutter's ERA (English and Romanian Adoptee) study 3

  Findings 2 - Outcome of attachment was different between if adoption took place before or after 6 months. After = disinhibited attachment. Symptoms included attention seeking, clinginess and social behaviour directed indiscriminately towards all adults, familiar and unfamiliar. Became insensitive parents (Quinton (1984) found that in their 20s, women raised in institutions experienced extreme difficulties in parenting).
• Romanian orphan studies: effects of institutionalisation - evaluation

  Real-life application. Studying Romanian orphans enhanced understanding of effects of institutionalisation. Led to improvements in way people 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 they have a key worker (plays central role for child). Means children have chance to develop normal attachments and avoid disinhibited attachment. Research has been immensely valuable in practical terms.
• Romanian orphan studies: effects of institutionalisation - evaluation 2

  Romanian orphans are not typical. Possible that conditions were so bad that results cannot be applied to understanding impact of better quality institutional care or any situation where children experience deprivation. E.g., had particularly poor standards of care especially when came to forming any relationships w/ children and extremely low levels of intellectual stimulation. Unusual situational variables mean studies may lack generalisability.
• Romanian orphan studies: effects of institutionalisation - evaluation 3

  Deprivation is only one factor. Romanian orphans suffered more than just emotional deprivation, as also were in poor health and lacked cognitive stimulation. More likely explanation for long term damage of institutionalisation maybe down to number of risk factors that are influencing the child's development.