Adoption Integration and Internalizing Behaviors

Infants that spend a significant amount of time in orphanages or similar institutions around the world lack stable, consistent caregivers; which increases the risk of mental health problems. In fact, even when these children are adopted into stable homes at a very young age research indicates that they are more likely to show symptoms of behavior and emotional problems (Wiik K.L., 2011). Part of the difference may have to do with how the child conceptualizes the adoption process and how well integrated they feel in the family. As part of an ongoing study in Dr. Megan Gunnar’s lab children complete an interview, one part of which asks them about their thoughts and feelings about being adopted. In addition parents and children completed a Health and Behavior Questionnaire (HBQ), which scores internalizing and externalizing behaviors. A coding scheme was created and is being used to rate these interviews for how well integrated children feel into their adopted families. The scores from the interview and the HBQ are being used to do statistical analyses to determine the correlation between adoption integration and internalizing and externalizing behaviors. It is hypothesized that children that are poorly integrated will have more internalizing behavior problems.This research was supported by the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Health (HD075349) to Megan R. Gunna