Behavior Problems in Postinstitutionalized Romanian Adoptees: Explanatory Parameters in the Adoptive Home

We examined behavior problems in 80 adolescents (39 male; mean age = 15.74 years) adopted in early childhood by Canadians from globally depriving Romanian institutions. Overall, rates of clinically significant behavior problems were comparable to rates found in younger postinstitutionalized adopted children. The association between duration of deprivation before adoption and behavior problems indicated relatively less lasting impact of deprivation on the behavior problems of adolescents who were adopted prior to 2 years of age. Measures of attachment, communicative openness about adoption, and exposure to culture of origin, which have been theoretically and, to a lesser extent, empirically linked to adjustment in postinstitutionalized adoptees were unrelated despite their apparent common conceptual link to sensitive parenting. Attachment and communicative openness were each significantly and negatively correlated with behavior problems; exposure to culture of origin was not. Hierarchical regressions revealed independent contributions of attachment and communicative openness to predicting behavior problems in postinstitutionalized adolescents.