Institutionalization, behavior and international adoption: predictors of behavior problems.

Abstract

Since the mid-1990s, over 10,0000 children have immigrated to the United States annually via international adoption. These children bring to their families unique strengths, as well as the possibility, for some, of physical, emotional and behavioral health risks, and challenges. This article presents predictive models on behavioral health problems for one group of international adoptees from Romania (n = 216). It is a companion piece to an earlier article that described behavior issues and compared the international adoptees to a group of children adopted through the public child welfare system using a cross-sectional approach. This article illustrates that a history of institutionalization had minimal long-term adverse effects on a child's behavioral health. The parent-child relationship was a strong resource for parents at both time periods. However, there was a strong relationship between parental negative reports with the relationship and child behavior problems.