Effects of Institutionalisation

Question 1

define institution

Answer 1

refers to the place like a hospital or orphanage where children live for a long, continuous period of time
- little emotional care provided
- can lead to mental, emotional and social problems

Question 2

who conducted the Romanian orphan studies?

Answer 2

Rutter & Songua-Barke
- started in the 90s with English and Romanian adoptees

Question 3

what was the aim of ROS?

Answer 3

to examine the long term effects of Institutionalisation in a longitudinal study

Question 4

what was the procedure used?

Answer 4

• 165 Romanian adoptees raised in orphanges: 111 adopted by age 2, 54 adopted by age 4
• compared to control group of British adopted children- 52 adopted before 6 months old
• children assessed at ages 4,6,11,15 and compared to see the effects of institutionalisation
• assessed physical, social and cognitive development
• interviews with teachers and parents

Question 5

findings of ROS

Answer 5

• at adoption: Romanians behind on all aspects compared to brit counterparts
• age 4: those adopted by 6 months had caught up with their Brit counterparts in all aspects
• later follow-ups: adopted after 6 months caught up but minority of those adopted still had issues disinhibited attachment + peer relationships

Question 6

conclusions of ROS

Answer 6

effects of institutionalisation can be reversed if children are able to form attachments later - but the later they do the more likely they are to have lasting effects

Question 7

Zeanah et al: Bucharest early intervention

Answer 7

• compared Romanian children who spent 90% of their lives in institutions to control group of Romanian children who had not
• children aged between 12-30 months
• assessed using strange situation & interviews with carers

Question 8

results of the Bucharest early intervention project:

Answer 8

• control group 74% securely attached Vs institutionalised group- 19% securely attached.
• institutionalised group-65% disinhibited attachment

Question 9

disinhibited attachment

Answer 9

lack of boundaries due to not having a secure attachment
- child is overly friendly to anyone & doesn’t discriminate between strangers and familiar ppl
- clingy and attention seeking

Question 10

damage to intellectual development

Answer 10

cognitive development is slowed by lack of emotional care
causing delayed intellectual development

Question 11

physical underdevelopment

Answer 11

deprivation dwarfism- bodies need love and care to physically grow

Question 12

poor parenting

Answer 12

grow up to be poor parents - Quinton (84) mothers who were institutionalised as children struggled when becoming mothers

Question 13

strengths of institutionalisation

Answer 13

useful applications
- those adopted pre 6mths caught up so led to changes in adoption processes
value of longitudinal studies
- study lasted for 20 years, short term suggest effects are permanent but long term shows effects can be overcome

Question 14

limitations of institutionalisation

Answer 14

confounding variables
- orphans lived in terrible conditions so we cannot directly establish c+e to being institutionalised
socially sensitive
- could lead to prejudice towards Romanians as it presents them as neglectful/ in a bad light