Romanian Orphan Studies: Effects of Institutionalisation

Weakness Romainian Cultural Bias - 2 points

- Romania has a poor educational system - government recently collapsed which under-resources their institutions. Western Institutions with better resources may not experience this this means research into romanian institutions cannot be applied to other cultures as conditions outside institutions themselves which don't reflect other cultures may be accountable for the effects on development

Application to Improve Childrens Lives - 2 pros

- much more focus is given to children while they are Institutionalised. - mothers giving up child for adoption do so within 1st week so secure attachment can form with adoptive mother this highlights the benefit of institutionalisation research to improving the lives of children in different ways

Strength Longitudinal Studies - 3 reasons they were good

- take a lot of time and planning - shows long-term impact of institutionalization - can account for weather effects may go with suitable care this suggests the findings of longitudial studies are a valid reprsentation of the effect of institutionalisation

3 Methodological Issues

Adoption vs control groups had no random allocation, more sociable children selected? effects extrapolated from animal studies long-term impacts

4 Main Effects of Institutionalisation

Deprivation Dwarfism Intellectual Underfunctioning Disinhibited Attachment Poor Parenting

Intellectual Underfunctioning

Emotional Deprivation can also effect Cognitive development

Rutter and Songua-Barke: Results

Initially 50% of Romanian orphans were Mentally Retarded in cognitive functioning and Under-Weight. British orphans didn't display these defects By 4 some Romanians showed large improvement not far behind British orphans, this was most evident in those adopted before 6 months Those adopted after 6 months showed Disinhibited Attachment types and problems with peer relationships

Physical Underdevelopment - Deprivation Dwarfism

Instituionalised children often are Physically Small the Lack of Emotional Care can lead to Deprivation Dwarfism

Studies into the Effects of Institutionalisation: 3 Pros

Longitudinal Studies 3 pros Application to Improve Children Lives Harlow found female monkeys were poor parents

Le Mare and Audet: Method

Longitutdial study into effects of Institutionalisation on Romanian Orphans 36 orphans in Canadaian families Dependant Variables were Physical Health and Growth

Weakness Deprivation Drawfism Ignores Physical Activity

Many orphans didn't only face Emotional deprivation but also physical deprivation as many had little space to move. this may be why some who were adopted so late had problems growing, not just emotional deprivation this suggests research may have misinterpreted the effect of institutionalisation as they didn't account for other Confounding Variables which may effect orphans development thus findings are invalid

Strength Harlow found female monkeys were poor parents

Monkeys raised in isolation were aggressive and struggled to parent monklets

Le Mare and Audet: Conclusion

Recovery from Institutional care was possible for physical development

Studies into the Effects of Institutionalisation: 3 Cons

Romanian Cultural Bias Ignores Physical Activity 3 Methodological Issues

Who Studied Romanian Orphanages

Rutter and Songua-Barke Le Mare and Audet

Rutter and Songua-Barke: Method

Studied 165 Romanian Children who spend early lives in a Romanian Institution suffering effects of Institutionalisation 111 were adopted before 2yrs and 54 by 4yrs monitered Physical, Cognitive and Social development through interviews with parents and techers at age 4, 6, 11, 15 Their progress was compared with a control group of 52 British adopties before the age of 6 months

Disinhibited Attachment

a form of Insecure Attachment where Children Treat Near-Strangers with Inappropriate Familiarity (overfriendliness) ie. sit on knees

Le Mare and Audet: Results

at 4yrs they were Physically Smaller than control group by 10yrs this disapeared and there Physical Health improved inline with control group

Poor Parenting

research shows Women raised in institutions experience difficulties acting as parents in later life, in comparison to women raised at home

Rutter and Songua-Barke: Conclusion

the Negative effects of Institutionalisation are less servere if children are adopted early however the conquences in those adopted later remain servere

Institutionalisation

the effect of Instituional care how time spent in instituions such as orpahange can affect childrens development, possible effects include Irreversable Physical, Cognitive and Social underdevelopment