Determinants of Behavioural Problems in Romanian Children Adopted in Ontario

Assessments of developmental status, attachment, and behaviour problems were conducted for 56 Romanian orphans adopted in Ontario. The group as a whole was functioning in the normal range and was considered well adjusted, but children who had experienced less than six months of institutional care had better outcomes than the rest on developmental measures. The adoptees showed an unusual distribution of attachment patterns: Secure attachment was less frequent than normally expected and avoidant attachment was not observed. Unexpectedly, neither age at adoption nor length of institutionalisation was related to attachment outcomes and it was suggested that the present preschool attachment system does not adequately capture attachment phenomena in this sample. Children who had more institution experience, those who were developmentally less competent, and those who were insecurely attached had more parent-reported behaviour problems.