Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Scholastic Attainment Following Severe Early Institutional Deprivation: A Study of Children Adopted from Romania

  • Published:
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The relationship between severe early institutional deprivation and scholastic attainment at age 11 in 127 children (68 girls and 59 boys) adopted from institutions in Romania was compared to the attainment of 49 children (17 girls and 32 boys) adopted within the UK from a non-institutional background. Overall, children adopted from Romania had significantly lower attainment scores than those adopted within the UK; the children within the Romanian sample who had spent 6 months or more in an institution had significantly lower attainment scores than those who had spent less than 6 months in an institution, but there was no additional risk of low attainment associated with longer institutional care after 6 months. The lower scholastic attainment in the children adopted from Romanian institutions, as compared with domestic adoptees, was mediated by IQ, and to a lesser degree, inattention/overactivity. When these factors were taken into account, only small between-group differences in attainment remained.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173–1182.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beckett, C., Maughan, B., Rutter, M., Castle, J., Colvert, E., Groothues, C., et al. (2006). Do the effects of early severe deprivation on cognition persist into early adolescence? Findings from the English and Romanian Adoptees study. Child Development, 77, 696–711.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bird, C. M., Papadopoulou, K., Ricciardelli, P., Rossor, M. N., & Cipolotti, L. (2004). Monitoring cognitive changes: Psychometric properties of six cognitive tests. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 43, 187–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyce, L., & Cole, T. (1993). Growth programme (Version 1 & 2) (Computer software). Ware, UK: Castlemead Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buckler, R. (1990). A longitudinal study of adolescent growth. London: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castle, J., Groothues, C., Bredenkamp, D., Beckett, C., O’Connor, T., Rutter, M., et al. (1999). Effects of qualities of early institutional care on cognitive attainment. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 69, 424–437.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Castle, J., Rutter, M., Beckett, C., Colvert, E., Groothues, C., Hawkins, A., et al. (2006). Service use by families with children adopted from Romania. Journal of Children’s Services, 1, 5–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Croft, C., Beckett, C., Rutter, M., Castle, Colvert, E., Groothues, C., et al. (2007). Early adolescent outcomes for institutionally-deprived and non-deprived adoptees. II Language as a protective factor and a vulnerable outcome. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 48, 31–44.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elander, J., & Rutter, M. (1996). Use and development of the Rutter parent and teacher scales. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 6, 63–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fergusson, D. M., & Horwood, L. J. (1995). Early Disruptive behavior, IQ, and later school achievement and delinquent behavior. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 23, 183–199.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frankenburg, W. K., van Doornick, W. J., Liddell, T. N., & Dick, N. P. (1986). Revised Denver pre-screening developmental questionnaire (R-PDQ). High Wycombe: UK: DDM Incorporated/The Test Agency Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gunnar, M. R., van Dulmen, M. H. M., & the IAP team (2007). Behavior problems in post-institutionalized internationally adopted children. Development and Psychopathology, 19, 129–148.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hinshaw, S. P. (1992). Externalizing behavior problems and academic underachievement in childhood and adolescence: Causal relationships and underlying mechanisms. Psychological Bulletin, 111, 127–155.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hogg, C., Rutter, M., & Richman, N. (1997). Emotional and behavioural problems. In I. Sclare (Ed.) Children in child psychology portfolio (pp. 1–34). Windsor: NFER.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreppner, J., O’Connor, T. G., Rutter, M., & the ERA team (2001). Can inattention / overactivity be an institutional deprivation syndrome? Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 29, 513–528.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kreppner, J. M., Rutter, M., Beckett, C., Castle, J., Colvert, E., Groothues, C., et al. (2007). What predicts normality and impairment following profound early institutional deprivation? A longitudinal examination through childhood. Developmental Psychology, in press.

  • McCarthy, D. (1972). The McCarthy scales of children’s abilities. New York: The Psychological Corporation/Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maclean (2003). The impact of institutionalization on child development. Development and Psychopathology, 15, 853–884.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, H. E., & Willison, J. (1994). National adult reading test, second edition. NFER-Nelson.

  • O’Connor, T. G., Rutter, M., Beckett, C., Keaveney, L., Kreppner, J., & the ERA study team. (2000). The effects of global severe privation on cognitive competence: extension and longitudinal follow-up. Child Development, 71, 376–390.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rabiner, D., & Coie, J. (2000). Early attention problems and children’s reading achievement: a longitudinal investigation. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 39, 859–867.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roy, P., & Rutter, M. (2006). Institutional care: associations between inattention and early reading performance. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 47, 480–487.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rust, J. (1996). Wechsler objective numerical dimensions. The psychological corporation. London: Harcourt Brace.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rust, J., Golombok, S., & Trickey, G. (1993). Wechsler objective reading dimensions. The psychological corporation. London: Harcourt Brace.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M., Colvert, E., Kreppner, J., Beckett, C., Castle, J., Groothues, C., et al. (2007a). Early adolescent outcomes for institutionally-deprived and non-deprived adoptees. I Disinhibited attachment. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 48, 17–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M., Colvert, E., Kreppner, J., Beckett, C., Castle, J., Groothues, C., et al. (2007b). Early adolescent outcomes for institutionally-deprived and non-deprived adoptees. Quasi-Autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 48, 17–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M., Kreppner, J., O’Connor, T. G., & the ERA study team. (2001). Specificity and heterogeneity in children’s responses to profound privation. British Journal of Psychiatry, 179, 97–103.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M., & the ERA Study Team. (1998) Developmental catch-up, and deficit, following adoption after severe early privation. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 39, 465–476.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sattler, J. (1982, revised 2002). Assessment of children’s intelligence and special abilities. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Ijzendoorn, M. H., & Juffer, F. (2006). Emanuel Miller Lecture, 2006. Adoption as intervention: Mata-analytic evidence for massive catch-up and plasticity in physical, socio-emotional and cognitive development. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 47, 1228–1245.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van Ijzendoorn, M. H., Juffer, F., & Poelhis, C. W. K. (2005). Adoption and cognitive development. A meta-analytic comparison of adopted and non-adopted children’s IQ and school performance. Psychological Bulletin, 131, 301–316.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (1991). Manual for the wechsler intelligence scale for children—Third Edition. San-Antonio: Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wickett, J. C., Vernon, P. A., & Lee, D. H. (2000). Relationships between factors of intelligence and brain volume. Personality and Individual Differences, 29, 1095–1122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are most grateful to all the families who have generously given their time to participating in this study, and whose comments and suggestions have been very helpful in relation to the interpretation of findings. The data collection phase of the study was supported by grants from the Helmut Horten Foundation and the UK Department of Health. Ongoing support is provided by grants from the Department of Health, the Nuffield Foundation and the Jacobs Foundation. Barbara Maughan is supported by the British Medical Research Council. We are glad to express our thanks to our external Advisory Group, whose input has been invaluable. The views expressed in this article are ours and do not necessarily represent those of the funders.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MRC SGDP Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, de Crespigny Park, Box PO 80, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK

    Celia Beckett, Barbara Maughan, Michael Rutter, Jenny Castle, Emma Colvert, Christine Groothues, Amanda Hawkins, Jana Kreppner, Suzanne Stevens & Edmund J. S. Sonuga-Barke

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA

    Thomas G. O’Connor

  3. Developmental Brain-Behaviour Unit, School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

    Suzanne Stevens & Edmund J. S. Sonuga-Barke

  4. Child Study Center, New York University, New York, NY, USA

    Edmund J. S. Sonuga-Barke

Authors
  1. Celia Beckett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Barbara Maughan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Michael Rutter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jenny Castle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Emma Colvert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Christine Groothues
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Amanda Hawkins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Jana Kreppner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Thomas G. O’Connor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Suzanne Stevens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Edmund J. S. Sonuga-Barke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Celia Beckett.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Beckett, C., Maughan, B., Rutter, M. et al. Scholastic Attainment Following Severe Early Institutional Deprivation: A Study of Children Adopted from Romania. J Abnorm Child Psychol 35, 1063–1073 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-007-9155-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-007-9155-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation