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Self-reported and parent reported problems in adolescent international adoptees
H J Versluis-den Bieman1, F C Verhulst
1Sophia Children's Hospital/Erasmus University Rotterdam, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, The Netherlands.
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines
|November 1, 1995
Summary
Intercountry adopted adolescents exhibit higher rates of problem behaviors compared to peers. Adolescence may be a vulnerable period for adopted youth, with parental reports indicating greater differences.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Adolescent Development
Background:
- Intercountry adoption presents unique developmental challenges for adolescents.
- Understanding behavioral differences in adopted youth is crucial for targeted support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare problem behaviors in intercountry adopted adolescents with general population samples.
- To investigate the influence of childhood deprivation and racial antagonism on these behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Survey of 1,538 intercountry adopted adolescents (aged 14-18) and comparison with general population data.
- Utilized self-reported and parent-reported measures of problem behaviors.
Main Results:
- Adopted boys (22%) and girls (18%) showed higher self-reported deviance than general population (approx. 10%).
- Parental reports indicated a more pronounced difference in problem behaviors for adopted boys.
- Childhood deprivation weakly correlated with parent-reported issues, not self-reported ones.
Conclusions:
- Adolescence is a potential period of heightened vulnerability for intercountry adoptees.
- Behavioral outcomes in adopted adolescents warrant further investigation and support systems.