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Romanian Orphan Studies - Coggle Diagram
Romanian Orphan Studies
In the 1990s there was a lack of nourishing food , toys and social interactions in romanian orphanages
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Many of the children were adopted and taken to more enriching environments in other countries where their progress has been monitored by psychologists in a series of research studies , generally to see if the effects of institutional care and privation can be overcome in the long term
Michael Rutter (1998) - Developmental catch up , and deficit , following adoption after severe global early privation
Aim
The assess whether loving and nurturing care could overturn the effects of privation the children had suffered in romanian orphanages
Procedure
Longitudinal study , incorporating a quasi experiment
The independent variable was the age of adoption , with 3 age groups being studied . Condition 1 - Adopted before the age of 6 months . Condition 2 - Adopted between 6 months and 2 years . Condition 3 - Adopted after 2 years
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111 Romanian orphans were initially assessed for height , head circumference and cognitive functioning on arrival in Britain
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Findings
50% of the romanian orphans were retarded in cognitive functioning at initial assessment and most were underweight . The control group did not show these deficits
At age 4 the romanian orphans showed great improvements in physical and cognitive development , with the orphans adopted before 6 months doing as well as the british adopted children
Conclusions
The negative effects of institutionalisation can be overcome by sensitive ,nurturing care
As the british adopted children did not suffer from developmental outcomes , it can be seen that separation from carers will not on its own cause negative developmental outcomes
Evaluation
Children have only been assessed up to the age of 4 so subsequent follow ups will be required to assess the long term effects of institutionalisation and the effects of subsequent enriching environments
Only some of the children received detailed clinical investigations so it is difficult to fully generalise findings
Because the children were not studied while in the romanian orphanages it is not possible to state which aspects of privation were most influential
In 1999 O'Connor reported that the most enduring negative effects were difficulties making attachments , with many orphans displaying indiscriminate friendliness . These effects appear to be positively correlated with the length of time children were institutionalised
O'Connor (2000) performed a follow up study at age 6 years , finding the improvements were maintained though not advanced upon
Rutter (2001) performed a follow up study , finding attachment problems , hyperactivity and cognitive impairment to be associated with institutionalisation , especially in children enduring long period of it , though 20% of such children showed normal functioning
Emotional problems , poor peer relations and behaviour problems were no associated with institutionalisation . This suggests specific negative effects are related to long term institutionalisation , but only in certain types of children
Rutter (2007) followed up the same children at age 11 , finding that many showed normal levels of functioning , but about 50% of those showing disinhibited attachments at age 6 were still doing so
Morison and Elwood (2005) found similar results with a group of romanian orphans adopted by canadian adoptive parents . This suggests Rutters findings are reliable
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