An examination of early socioeconomic status and neighborhood disadvantage as independent predictors of antisocial behavior: A longitudinal adoption study.

The present study examined early socioeconomic status (SES) and neighborhood disadvantage (ND) as independent predictors of antisocial behavior (ASB) and addressed the etiology of the associations (i.e., genes versus the environment) using a longitudinal adoption design. Prospective data from the Colorado Adoption Project (435 adoptees, 598 nonadopted children, 526 biological grandparents of adoptees, 481 adoptive parents, and 617 nonadoptive parents including biological parents of unrelated siblings of adoptees) were examined. SES and ND were assessed during infancy and ASB was evaluated from ages four through 16 using parent and teacher report. Associations between predictors and ASB were compared across adoptive and nonadoptive families and sex. Early SES was a nominally significant, independent predictor of antisocial ASB, such that lower SES predicted higher levels of ASB in nonadoptive families only. ND was not associated with ASB. Associations were consistent across aggression and delinquency, and neither SES nor ND was associated with change in ASB over time. Nominally significant associations did not remain significant after controlling for multiple testing. As such, despite nonsignificant differences in associations across sex or adoptive status, we were unable to make definitive conclusions regarding the genetic versus environmental etiology of or sex differences in the influence of SES and ND on ASB. Despite inconclusive findings, in nonadoptees, results were consistent-in effect size and direction-with previous studies in the literature indicating that lower SES is associated with increased risk for ASB.

Estereótipos e intenção de adotar: explicação baseada nos valores humanos / Stereotypes and intention to adopt: explanation based on human values / Estereotipos y intención de adoptar: explicación basada en valores humanos

Este trabalho objetiva verificar o poder preditivo dos valores humanos na explicação dos estereótipos sobre a criança adotada e da intenção de adotar. Participaram 245 pessoas, sendo a maioria do sexo masculino (59,2%), com idade média de 25,5 anos (DP = 7,10). Estas responderam a Escala de Estereótipos sobre a Criança Adotada, a Escala de Intenção Comportamental de Adotar, o Questionário de Valores Básicos e um questionário sociodemográfico. Os resultados foram consistentes com o modelo teórico adotado. Os valores normativos e de realização atuaram como bons preditores dos estereótipos da criança adotada. Ademais, os valores interativos e de realização foram capazes de predizer a intenção de adotar. Conclui-se que os valores humanos se constituem como uma variável importante na explicação dos estereótipos e na intenção de adotar, possibilitando, assim, a desconstrução de estereótipos negativos e de preconceitos que envolvem a criança adotada, bem como incentivando a prática da adoção

This work aims to check the predictive power of human values in explaining the stereotypes of the adopted child and the intention to adopt. 245 people participated, most of them male (59.2%), with an average age of 25.5 years (SD = 7.10). They answered the Stereotypes of the Adopted Child Scale, the Scale behavioral intention to adopt, the Basic Values Questionnaire and a sociodemographic questionnaire. The results were consistent with the theoretical model adopted. The normative and achievement values served as good predictors of the adopted child's stereotypes. In addition, the interactive and achievement values were able to predict the intention to adopt. It is concluded that human values constitute an important variable in the explanation of stereotypes and the intention to adopt, enabling the deconstruction of negative stereotypes and prejudices involving the adopted child, as well as encouraging the practice of adoption

Este documento tiene como objetivo verificar el poder predictivo de los valores humanos al explicar los estereotipos sobre el niño adoptado y la intención de adoptar. Participaron 245 personas, la mayoría hombres (59,2%), con una edad promedio de 25,5 años (DP = 7,10). Éstas respondieron a la Escala de Estereotipos sobre el Niño Adoptado, la Escala de Intención de Comportamiento para Adoptar, el Cuestionario de Valores Básicos y un cuestionario sociodemográfico. Los resultados fueron consistentes con el modelo teórico adoptado. Además, los valores interactivos y de rendimiento fueron capaces de predecir la intención de adoptar. Se concluye que los valores humanos constituyen una variable importante en la explicación de los estereotipos y en la intención de adoptar, permitiendo así la deconstrucción de estereotipos negativos y prejuicios que involucran al niño adoptado, así como incentiva la práctica de la adopción

Adult psychosocial outcomes of men and women who were looked-after or adopted as children: prospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether men and women who were looked-after (in public care) or adopted as children are at increased risk of adverse psychological and social outcomes in adulthood. DESIGN, SETTING: Prospective observational study using the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, which recruited pregnant women and their male partners in and around Bristol, UK in the early 1990s. PARTICIPANTS: 8775 women and 3654 men who completed questionnaires at recruitment (mean age: women 29; men 32) and 5 years later. EXPOSURE: Childhood public care status: looked-after; adopted; not looked-after or adopted (reference group). OUTCOMES: Substance use (alcohol, cannabis, tobacco) prepregnancy and 5 years later; if ever had addiction; anxiety and depression during pregnancy and 5 years later; if ever had mental health problem; social support during pregnancy; criminal conviction. RESULTS: For women, 2.7% were adopted and 1.8% had been looked-after; for men, 2.4% and 1.4%, respectively. The looked-after group reported the poorest outcomes overall, but this was not a universal pattern, and there were gender differences. Smoking rates were high for both the looked-after (men 47%, women 58%) and adopted (men 44%, women 40%) groups relative to the reference group (both 28%). The looked-after group were at increased risk of a high depression score (men: 26% vs 11%, OR 2.9 (95% CI 1.5 to 5.6); women: 24% vs 9%, 3.4 (2.2 to 5.0)). A high anxiety score was reported by 10% of the reference women, compared with 26% of those looked-after (3.0 (2.0 to 4.5)) and 17% of those adopted (1.8 (1.2 to 2.6)). Looked-after men and women reported the lowest social support, while criminal convictions and addiction were highest for looked-after men. Adjustment for adult socioeconomic position generally attenuated associations for the looked-after group. CONCLUSIONS: The needs of those who experience public care as children persist into adulthood. Health and social care providers should recognise this.