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Journal of Pediatric Psychology Advance Access originally published online on August 19, 2007
Journal of Pediatric Psychology 2007 32(10):1249-1258; doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsm062
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© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Pediatric Psychology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Attachment, Cognitive, and Motor Development in Adopted Children: Short-term Outcomes after International Adoption

W. Monique van Londen, PhD1, Femmie Juffer, PhD2 and Marinus H. van IJzendoorn, PhD2

1Department of Child and Adolescent Studies, Utrecht University and 2Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, The Netherlands

All correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Femmie Juffer, Centre for Child and Family Studies, P.O. Box 9555, NL 2300 RB Leiden, The Netherlands. E-mail: Juffer{at}fsw.leidenuniv.nl.


  Abstract

Objective To examine infant attachment and developmental functioning shortly after international adoption. Methods At 14 months, infant–mother attachment and mental (MDI) and psychomotor (PDI) development were assessed in 70 internationally adopted children. Mean age at arrival was 5.5 months, mean stay in the adoptive family 8.7 months. Results Adopted children's MDI and PDI did not deviate from normative scores. Also, their secure–insecure attachment distribution was comparable with that of normative groups. However, more adoptees were disorganized attached (36 vs. 15% in normative groups). Temporary residence in a foster home in the country of origin before adoption was related to higher MDI and PDI, whereas disorganized attachment in the adoptive family was related to lower MDI and PDI scores. Conclusions The majority of internationally adopted children form secure attachment relationships and function at normative developmental levels shortly after adoption. Residence in a foster family before adoption may partly prevent developmental delays.

Key words: disorganized attachment; foster care; international adoption; mental development; orphanage; psychomotor development.

Received June 23, 2006; revision received June 22, 2007; accepted July 15, 2007


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