Poster #72 - Examining the Contributions of Social Neglect and Parental Sensitivity on Internationally Adopted Children’s Behavior Problems

• In Event: Poster Session 06

Abstract

Children adopted internationally often encounter adverse environments prior to adoption that have the potential to harm their development. For example, many internationally adopted children experience social neglect while living in institutional settings because there are not enough adults working in the facility to provide consistent and regular care children need (Dozier et al., 2012). Social neglect, in particular, has been linked to high rates of behavior problems among internationally adopted children (Gunnar et al., 2007). However, many internationally adopted children catch-up at least partially with their non-adopted peers after adoption (van IJzendoorn & Juffer, 2006). The amount of parental sensitivity children experience after placement in the adoptive family may contribute to this developmental catch-up. The present research project tested the hypothesis that high levels of parental sensitivity act as a buffer and help lower behavior problems among adopted children who experienced social neglect prior to adoption, while low levels of parental sensitivity exacerbate behavior problems among children with pre-adoption experiences of social neglect.

The sample included 106 children (52% female) who had been adopted internationally by families living in the United States. The children had primarily been adopted from countries in Asia (68%), Eastern Europe/Russia (18%), and Africa (13%) when they were between 4.8 months and 37.8 months old. Social neglect was measured through a questionnaire assessing parents’ knowledge about their adopted child’s pre-adoption history during the initial visit when children were 21.8 months old on average. Parental sensitivity was also assessed at this initial visit through a ten-minute free-play session. Trained coders rated parental sensitivity, intrusiveness, and positive regard on five-point scales, which later combined to create a composite measure of parental sensitivity. Children’s heavier problems were measured at the initial visit using the Brief Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment and a second time when children were, on average, 61 months old using the Child Behavioral Checklist.

The results of the linear regression analyses indicated that children who experienced social neglect prior to adoption exhibited more behavior problems at Time 2, even after controlling for initial levels of behavior problems at Time 1 (Model 1 in Table 1). However, there was not a significant association between social neglect and later behavior problems after controlling for parental sensitivity (Model 3). In contrast, parental sensitivity was negatively associated with adopted children’s behavior problems at Time 2 before and after controlling for social neglect prior to adoption (Model 2 and Model 3, respectively; see Figure 1). Contrary to our hypothesis, the association between parental sensitivity and later behavior problems was not moderated by whether the child experienced social neglect (Model 4).

In sum, parental sensitivity provided by adoptive parents was associated with reductions in behavior problems among internationally adopted children over time. These findings may help inform the ways in which adoption agencies and other service providers assist current and prospective adoptive parents prepare to care for their children.

Authors

• Rose McLaughlin, University of Utah
  Presenting Author

• Lee Raby, University of Utah

• Alysse Loomis, University of Utah

• Mary Dozier, University of Delaware