Romanian Orphan Studies - Institutionalisation

Question 1

Orphan Studies

Answer 1

Concerned children placed in care as parents cannot look after them either due to them passing away or abandoning their child permanently

Question 2

Institutionalisation

Answer 2

Term for the effects of living in an institutional setting such as a hospital or orphanage
- where ppl live for long continous periods of time

Question 3

Context for Romanian Orphan Studies

Answer 3

• Began under Communist rule of Nicolai Ceuisescus who banned abortion + denied contraception during food + energy storage
• Many Romanians abandoned their newborn children leaving 1000s at underfunded state run orphanages

Question 4

Orphanage Conditions

Answer 4

• Lacked bath, medicines and washing facillities
• were subjected to sexual + physical abuse
• flea infestations
• leaky roofs
• After 18 most were kicked onto the street

Question 5

Rutter et al’s research - with ERA

Answer 5

P: followed 105 orphans for years to investigate extent that good care could make up for poor early experiences in institutions

F: 1/2 had signs of delayed intellectual development + undernourishment
Those adopted before 6 months had higher IQ (86 v 77 at 10 yrs) + diff levels persisted to 16 (Beckett et al 2010)
Kennedy et al (2016) ADHD most common in 15 + 22-25 yr samples

=>Those adopted later showed more signs of disinhibited attachment vs those adopted earlier - rarely did

Question 6

Zennah et al’s research - The Bachanest Early Intervention Project

Answer 6

P: BEI assessed attachment using Strange Situation + asking carers about disinhibited behaviour 45 children 12-31 months who spent 90% of life institutionalised v control of 50 who weren’t

F: 74% of control were securely attachment v only 19% of institutionalised
Description of DA applied to 44% of institutionalised v 20% of control

Question 7

Effect of Institutionalisation - Disinhibited attachment

Answer 7

• Children are equally friendly + affectionate to familiar + strangers which is unusual as most have stranger anxiety by 2yrs
  => adaptation to having multiple caregivers during sensitive period => in these institutions had 50 carers which wouldn’t spend enough time to form secure attachment

Question 8

Intellectual disability

Answer 8

Most in Rutter’s study showed signs of this when arriving in Britain - most adopted before 6 months caught up to control by 4

=> appears like emotional development, damage to IQ can be reversed if adoption takes place before attachment forms