Romanian Orphan Studies: Institutionalisation Flashcards
Define institutionalisation
A term for the effects of living in an institution
Eg hospital, orphanage etc
What are the Romanian orphan studies
Studying the effects of deprivation as institutionalisation rose in the 1990s.
President of Romania nicolai ceaucescu required all Romanian women to have 5 kids, most couldn’t afford these so big institutions were made
Who studied institutionalisation
Rutter
What was the procedure of Rutters study
Followed 165 Romanian orphans for years as part of the English and Romanian adoptee study
Physical cognitive and emotional development was assessed at ages 4. 6 11 15 and 22
Control group of uk adopted children at the time
What was the aim of Rutters study
To investigate the extent to which good care could make up for poor early experiences in institutions
What were the findings of Rutters study
First arrived in uk - half showed signs of delayed intellectual development and majority were seriously undernourished
Age 11 - mean IQ
Those adopted before 6mo old - 102
6mo-2yr - 86
2yr+ - 77
Remained the same at 16 years old
ADHD more common in 15 and 22 yr old samples
Children adopted after 6 months showed disinhibited attachment style - attention seeking, clinginess, social behaviour directed to adults
- those adopted before 6 months rarely displayed this type of behaviour
What was zeanahs research
The Bucharest early intervention project
Assessed 95 Romanian 12-31 months who had spent most of life in institutions
Compared to those who had never been in an institution
Measured using strange situation and asked about disinhibited attachment behaviours
What were zeanahs findings
74% of control classes as secure
19% of institutionalised were secure
44% institutionalised disinhibited
20% control disinhibited
What are the effects of institutionalisation
Disinhibited attachment - unusual as most have stranger anxiety. Due to not having one cared but multiple across the sensitive period
Intellectual disability - previously called mental retardation. Can be prevented if adopted before 6 months
What are the strengths to Rutters orphan studies
Real world application - improved understanding of institutional care and how to prevent the effects. Eg children now have one care worker etc , aswell as institutions being undesirable and now focus is on adoption or foster care
Few confounding variable - previously orphan studies occurred with children who had been through trauma neglect abuse etc. the Romanian orphan studies however had children who were given up by loving parents who were poor, therefore higher internal validity .
However - experiences in the institution were awful so results may be due to this
What is the limitation to Rutters orphan study
Lack of adult data
Cannot study long term affects as last age was 22 and no info yet
On stuff like parental relationships, partners etc
