School victimization and psychosocial adjustment among Eastern European adopted adolescents across Europe.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about bullying experienced by internationally adopted teens residing in Europe. OBJECTIVES: Within the framework of an international research effort involving several European countries, the main goal of this study was to explore the experiences of bullying victimization suffered by adopted adolescents, as well as its impact on their psychological adjustment. METHODS: The sample consisted of 199 adolescents born in Eastern European countries and adopted in France (n = 50), Italy (n = 59), Norway (n = 25) and Spain (n = 65). RESULTS: More than half of the adopted adolescents had been exposed to some form of peer victimization in the previous 2 months, with verbal harassment and social exclusion being the most common forms of victimization. Differences between receiving countries were not statistically significant, suggesting a common pattern for Eastern European adopted adolescents living in Western Europe. More frequent experiences of peer victimization were associated with more psychological difficulties among the adopted adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight that adopted adolescents might have considerable difficulties in social integration with peers; these experiences of peer victimization might play an important role hindering their psychosocial adjustment. The socioemotional development of adopted people is not only linked to their pre-adoptive experiences; factors in their daily lives (i.e., peer relationships) may also be associated with their psychological adjustment later in life. Interventions are needed to promote the real inclusion of these groups of children in their social and educational contexts.

Foster children's attachment representations: the role of type of maltreatment and the relationship with birth family.

Children in foster care are at risk of developing insecure and disorganized attachment, which is problematic for establishing new relationships in foster families. However, most previous studies have focused on attachment behaviors in young children rather than on attachment representations. We compared foster children's attachment representations with those of a community group, analyzing also the contribution made by different factors to foster children's attachment representations. We assessed the attachment representations of 109 children aged between 4 and 9 years (51 children in non-kin foster care and 58 community children) in southern Spain, using a narrative story stem measure. Case records information were collected for adversity and child protection variables. Foster children had fewer security and more avoidance indicators than their community counterparts, with those who had suffered more severe maltreatment scoring lower for security and higher for disorganization. Exposure to physical and emotional abuse and birth parents' opposition to the foster placement predicted more disorganized attachment representations. Interventions with foster children should consider their heterogeneity in terms of attachment outcomes, and foster caregivers of abused children may need guidance in order to provide therapeutic caregiving.

Internalizing Problems in Adopted Eastern European Adolescents: The Role of the Informant, Early Adversity and Post-Adoption Processes.

BACKGROUND: Internationally adopted children who suffered early institutionalization are at risk of a late onset of internalizing problems in adolescence. Both pre-adoption, adversity-related, and post-adoption factors predict variability in internalizing problems in this population. Previous studies have suggested different patterns of parent-adolescent informant discrepancies in adoptive dyads METHOD: We analyzed internalizing problems among 66 adolescents internationally adopted from Russia to Spanish families using both the parent- and self-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and comparing them with a low-risk, community group (n = 30). We assessed pre-adoption and post-adoption factors and evaluated cross-informant discrepancies. RESULTS: Internationally adopted adolescents exhibited more internalizing problems by parent-report than community adolescents, but there were no differences by self-report. Adopted youth showed no discrepancies between parent and self-report, whereas community adolescents reported more internalizing symptoms than their parents. Pre-adoption adversity-related factors predicted parent-reported internalizing problems, while post-adoption factors predicted self-reported internalizing problems. CONCLUSIONS: Parent-adolescent informant discrepancies in adopted adolescents from Eastern Europe for internalizing symptoms were lower than in community adolescents. Both adversity-related factors and the lived experience of adoption may influence the development of internalizing symptoms in internationally adopted adolescents.

Attachment representations in internationally adopted children.

Using the Story Stem Assessment Profile, attachment representations were analyzed in a group of 40 internationally adopted children studied after an average of 40 months since their adoption. These children were compared to 58 children living with their birth families and with no experience of maltreatment, and to 50 children who were living in Spanish institutions. All of the children were between four and eight years of age at the time of study. Findings indicated that the adoptees' representations were more negative than those of the control group, but similar to those of the institutionalized children. The associations between different indicators of attachment representations, as well as the role of adopted children's characteristics (pre-adoption experiences, adoption age, time with the adoptive family) were also analyzed. The results showed a long-term impact of early adversity, a certain degree of heterogeneity in the attachment representations' of both the adopted and the institutionalized children, and the role played by certain background and individual variables.

Changes in Attachment Disorder symptoms in children internationally adopted and in residential care.

BACKGROUND: A high incidence of Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) and Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder (DSED) has been reported for children with experiences of trauma and other forms of adversity. OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to explore symptoms of RAD and DSED in children in two protection alternatives (international adoption and residential care) after experiences of early adversity. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: The participants were 146 children: 40 children adopted into Spanish families from Russia, 49 children in residential care in Spanish institutions (40.8% in long-term foster centers) and 57 community comparison children. METHODS: The Relationship Problems Questionnaire was used to explore both RAD and DSED. All adoptive parents and institutional caregivers retrospectively reported the problems at time of placement (Wave 0), as well as the symptoms observed at the time of the study, with children aged 4-8 years old (Wave 1). At this stage, the assessment of the community comparison group was added. RESULTS: Adopted and children in residential care presented high levels of RAD and DSED symptoms at placement. For adoptees, previous experiences of abuse and neglect were marginally associated with the initial presence of RAD symptoms and a significant recovery was observed after an average of three years in their families, with a certain level of longitudinal continuity between initial and later assessments. In children currently placed in long-term residential centers in Spain, DSED symptoms worsened from W0 to W1. CONCLUSIONS: Adoption appears to be an effective intervention that promotes recovery of RAD and DSED symptomatology after early adversity, whereas institutionalization causes negative effects.

Growth and development in internationally adopted children: extent and timing of recovery after early adversity.

BACKGROUND: Following initial adversity, internationally adopted children arrive with significant growth and developmental delays. Post-placement recovery has been widely documented, but little has been known about its extent and timing several years after placement and in children with diverse pre-adoptive experiences. METHODS: A total of 289 children adopted from six countries into Spanish families were studied. Growth and psychological development were considered on arrival and after an average of over 3 years. RESULTS: Growth and developmental initial delays affected a substantial percentage of the children. Post-adoption recovery seemed quicker and more complete in weight and height than in head circumference and psychological development. Initial and later values were correlated, but growth-development relation on arrival subsequently lost significance. Most of the catch-up happened in the first three post-adoption years. CONCLUSION: Adoption offers an impressive opportunity for recovery after previous adversity, although continuity between past and present persists. The improvement is more marked in some areas than in others and more substantial in the first post-adoption years.

Internalizing Problems in Adopted Eastern European Adolescents: The Role of the Informant, Early Adversity and Post-Adoption Processes / Problemas Internalizantes en Adolescentes Adoptados de Europa del Este: el Rol del Informante, la Adversidad Temprana y los Procesos Post-adopción

Background: Internationally adopted children who suffered early institutionalization are at risk of a late onset of internalizing problems in adolescence. Both pre-adoption, adversity-related, and post-adoption factors predict variability in internalizing problems in this population. Previous studies have suggested different patterns of parent- adolescent informant discrepancies in adoptive dyads. Method: We analyzed internalizing problems among 66 adolescents internationally adopted from Russia to Spanish families using both the parent- and self-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and comparing them with a low-risk, community group (n = 30). We assessed pre-adoption and post-adoption factors and evaluated cross-informant discrepancies. Results: Internationally adopted adolescents exhibited more internalizing problems by parent-report than community adolescents, but there were no differences by self-report. Adopted youth showed no discrepancies between parent and self-report, whereas community adolescents reported more internalizing symptoms than their parents. Pre-adoption adversity-related factors predicted parent-reported internalizing problems, while post-adoption factors predicted self-reported internalizing problems. Conclusions: Parent-adolescent informant discrepancies in adopted adolescents from Eastern Europe for internalizing symptoms were lower than in community adolescents. Both adversity-related factors and the lived experience of adoption may influence the development of internalizing symptoms in internationally adopted adolescents.(AU)

Antecedentes: Los niños y niñas adoptados internacionalmente están en riesgo de desarrollar problemas emocionales en la adolescencia. Factores relacionados con la adversidad y con procesos post-adopción predicen variabilidad en problemas internalizantes en esta población. Estudios previos sugieren también diferentes patrones de discrepancias entre informantes en diadas adoptivas. Método: Analizamos los problemas internalizantes en 66 adolescentes adoptados de Rusia a familias españolas, usando el Cuestionario de Capacidades y Fortalezas y comparándoles con un grupo adolescentes de la comunidad (n = 30). Evaluamos factores pre- y post-adopción y discrepancias entre informantes (autoinforme e informe parental). Resultados: Los adolescentes adoptados mostraron más problemas internalizantes por informe parental que los adolescentes comunitarios, pero no hubo diferencias por autoinforme. En el grupo adoptado no hubo discrepancias entre informantes, mientras que el grupo de comparación reportó más síntomas internalizantes que sus progenitores. Factores relacionados con la adversidad predijeron problemas internalizantes por informe parental, mientras que factores post-adopción predijeron problemas internalizantes por autoinforme. Conclusiones: Las discrepancias entre informantes en problemas internalizantes fueron menores en adolescentes adoptados que en adolescentes de la comunidad. Tanto factores relacionados con laadversidad como con la vivencia de la adopción pueden influir en el desarrollo de problemas internalizantes en adolescentes adoptados internacionalmente.(AU)

Adversity and Adjustment in Children in Institutions, Family Foster Care, and Adoption.

This study's objective was to identify the adversity profiles of children in different childcare placements, and to analyze their relationship with subsequent psychological adjustment. We studied a group of 230 children 4 to 10 years old indifferent childcare placements (international adoption, institutional care, non-kin foster care, and kinship care), as well as a control group. Information was collected from parent or caregiver interviews and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The results showed that children in the child welfare system had experienced significant adversity before their current placement, especially among institutional care cases and international adoptees. Meanwhile, children in kinship care had experienced less adversity (p .50 to d > .80). After a period of time in their respective placements, children's psychological adjustment was generally positive, but children living in institutional care exhibited the most problems and difficulties, followed by non-kin foster care cases (p .50 to d > .80). Finally, we found that children's early adversity levels (p < .05; r = .16), age of current placement (p < .01; r = .23), and duration of current placement (p < .05: r = -.19) were all tied to current psychological adjustment.

Programa andaluz para la promoción de la parentalidad positiva en nacimientos prematuros / No disponible

En el marco del proyecto para la promoción de la parentalidad positiva en el sistema sanitario andaluz conocido como el Proyecto Apego, desarrollado anteriormente en este monográfico, surge una estrategia específica para promover el ejercicio positivo de la parentalidad en padres y madres de bebés prematuros. Una propuesta dirigida a cubrir las necesidades de estos bebés y sus familias tanto durante su estancia en las Unidades Neonatales como tras el alta, en el hogar familiar. Con este objetivo, se elabora una serie de materiales que intentan promover la autonomía y la confianza de padres y madres en el afrontamiento y cuidado saludable de su bebé prematuro, así como apoyar y complementar el trabajo de seguimiento que los profesionales de Neonatología realizan con estos bebés y sus familias. Los materiales se concretan en dos guías para padres y madres de bebés prematuros (una centrada en el tiempo de hospitalización y la otra en lo que acontece o puede acontecer tras el alta hospitalaria), una guía para el trabajo de los profesionales en las sesiones grupales con las familias y un vídeo dirigido a las familias. Los materiales persiguen promover la parentalidad positiva y un desarrollo más óptimo y saludable tanto de los bebés prematuros como de sus familias

In the framework of the project for the promotion of the positive parenting in the Andalusian health system known as The Programme Attachment, developed earlier in this monographic, arises a specific strategy to promote the positive exercise of parenthood in premature children. This is a proposal to meet the needs of these babies and their families during their stay in neonatal units and after discharge, in the family home. In order to meet this objective, a series of materials that aim to promote the autonomy and the confidence of parents in healthy premature baby care is elaborated. In addition, the program aims to complement the work of monitoring made by professionals in the field of Neonatology with premature babies and their families. Materials developed are realized in two guides for parents of premature babies (during hospitalisation and following discharge from hospital), a guide for professionals for work in group sessions with families and a video aimed at families. Those materials pursue promote the parenting positive and a development more optimal and healthy both of them babies premature as of their families

La investigación en acogimiento familiar: de la descripción a los procesos de adaptación y desarrollo / No disponible

Este artículo presenta una revisión de algunas líneas de investigación centradas en el acogimiento familiar sobre las que sería conveniente ampliar nuestro conocimiento, particularmente en España. Para que la medida de acogimiento familiar se ajuste mejor a las necesidades de los menores es fundamental dar el salto de los estudios descriptivos al análisis de los procesos relacionados con una mejor adaptación. Con motivo de una investigación actualmente en marcha por los autores, en este artículo se repasan algunas de las áreas más relevantes para el desarrollo de los menores en acogimiento familiar que aún están escasamente estudiadas. Concretamente, las áreas revisadas son la auto-regulación, las representaciones mentales de apego, la salud mental y la familia acogedora como contexto de recuperación. En cada una de ellas se subraya su importancia en el acogimiento familiar y se repasan los estudios más relevantes. El artículo finaliza con algunas conclusiones derivadas de la revisión

The current paper is a review of some research lines on foster care in which we need a greater knowledge, particularly in Spain. If we want foster care to be better adjusted to children needs, it is essential to move beyond descriptive studies to tackle processes and mechanisms that lead to a better adjustment. This article reviews some of these relevant areas for children development that are still scarcely studied in foster care, in line with a current research project by the authors. The areas reviewed are self-regulation, mental representations of attachment, mental health and the foster family as a context for recovery. In each area, it’s emphasized its relevance for foster care, and the major studies are reviewed. The article ends with some conclusions derived from the literature review

Conductas facilitadoras del apego en las interacciones parento-filiales y función reflexiva parental en familias adoptivas / No disponible

Los procesos de desarrollo que se ponen en juego cuando los niños y niñas adoptados llegan a sus nuevas familias han sido ampliamente estudiados y analizados en la investigación hasta la actualidad. Sin embargo, son pocos los estudios que se han encargado de analizar de manera más concreta y exhaustiva las interacciones que se producen entre padres y madres adoptivos con sus hijos e hijas adoptados. En este estudio, se analizan las interacciones parento-filiales en familias adoptivas y no adoptivas, así como las relaciones entre conductas parentales facilitadoras del apego y con la función reflexiva parental, en las familias adoptivas. Para ello, se evaluó a un total de 88 díadas a través de una tarea conjunta de construcción y una entrevista a las madres y padres. Los datos mostraron que ambos grupos eran semejantes en sus interacciones, aunque en las díadas adoptivas la frecuencia de conductas promotoras del apego fue significativamente mayor. Así mismo, se encontraron correlaciones significativas entre las conductas parentales facilitadoras del apego, observadas durante las interacciones parento-filiales. Finalmente, se observó que un pensamiento reflexivo parental más positivo sobre los menores adoptados y su relación con ellos estaba asociado a un mayor número de conductas promotoras del apego durante la interacción

While research into adopted children and their new families is abundant, studies exploring interactions in their relationship are more uncommon. Few studies have specifically analyzed the interactions between adoptive parents and adopted children. This work studies parent-child interaction in a sample of adoptive and non-adoptive dyads, as well as the relationships between attachment facilitating parental behaviors and parental reflective function in adoptive families. Through a co-construction task and an interview, 88 dyads were assessed. The data showed noteworthy similarities between the two groups and a significantly greater presence of some attachment facilitating behaviors in the adoptive dyads. Also, significant correlations were found between attachment facilitating parental behaviors, observed during parent-child interactions. Finally, a more positive parental reflective thinking about the adopted children and their relationship with them appeared to be associated with a higher number of attachment facilitating behaviors in the interaction

Reconocimiento de emociones en menores con adversidad familiar temprana / No disponible

El reconocimiento de emociones es un componente de la comprensión de emociones que se encuentra fuertemente influenciado por las experiencias de interacción social. La adversidad temprana en menores suele estar ligada a déficits en las interacciones interpersonales, lo que puede afectar al desarrollo emocional. En este trabajo se explora el reconocimiento de emociones en tres grupos de niñas y niños: un grupo de adoptados internacionalmente, otro que vive en acogimiento residencial y un grupo de comparación. Además, se analiza la influencia del tipo de emoción a identificar (positivas, negativas y ambiguas), así como la relación del reconocimiento de emociones con el apego y la inteligencia de dichos menores. Los resultados muestran diferencias entre los tres grupos, así como más dificultades en la identificación de las emociones ambiguas entre los menores adoptados y en en acogimiento residencial. Además, se encontraron relaciones significativas entre el reconocimiento de emociones y el desarrollo cognitivo para todos los grupos, mientras que la relación con el apego fue menos evidente

Emotional recognition is a component of the emotional understanding, which is strongly influenced by the experiences of social interaction. Early adversity is often linked to deficits in interpersonal situations, which could affect the emotional development. This research explores the emotional recognition in three groups of children: international adoptees, institutionalized, and a comparison group. Furthermore, it is analyzed the influences of the type of emotion to identify (positive, negative, and ambiguous), as well as the relationship between emotional recognition and attachment, and the cognitive developmental these groups of children. The results show differences between the three groups, as well as more difficulties in the identification of ambiguous emotions in adoptees and foster children. In addition, relationships between emotional recognition and cognitive development were found in all groups; however, the relationship with attachment was less clear

Programa Apego. Una experiencia de promoción de parentalidad positiva desde el contexto sanitario / No disponible

La incorporación de la parentalidad positiva al trabajo con familias ha supuesto la adopción de un enfoque de intervención proactivo y capacitador que sitúa los programas de educación parental en el ámbito de la prevención y promoción como punta de lanza en el apoyo a las familias, para que cumplan adecuadamente las tareas relacionadas con el cuidado y la educación de sus hijos e hijas. En este trabajo se describe el programa Apego, una iniciativa de carácter psicoeducativo dirigida a promover la parentalidad positiva desde el contexto sanitario en el ámbito de la promoción y prevención primaria. A la luz de las características del programa, se discuten sus fortalezas y debilidades según los estándares de calidad actuales en el trabajo con familias

The inclusion of a positive parenting approach in family support has translated into the stimulus of active and strengthening interventions, placing preventive and promoting parent education programmes as valuable initiatives in supporting families regarding their childrearing tasks. In this paper, the programme Apego (Attachment in English) is described. This is a psychoeducational program aimed at enhancing positive parenting from health services at a preventive level. From Apego programme characteristics, its strengths and weakness are discussed according to current quality standards in family support area

Promoción de parentalidad positiva en Polígono Sur. Diseño de un programa para familias en situación de riesgo psicosocial / No disponible

Las recomendaciones nacionales e internacionales en materia de promoción de parentalidad positiva reconocen la necesidad de apoyar a las familias para un ejercicio adecuado de sus funciones educativas, particularmente a aquellas que se encuentran situaciones de riesgo psicosocial. Estas recomendaciones sitúan a los servicios municipales como las instituciones idóneas para garantizar dicho apoyo. En este trabajo se presenta el Programa de Promoción de Parentalidad Positiva en Polígono Sur (5P’s), una iniciativa de carácter psicoeducativo y comunitario que surge, fundamentalmente, por la necesidad de disponer de materiales y recursos específicos para familias que, por su situación de particular vulnerabilidad, por sus propios valores culturales, así como por las particularidades del barrio en el que habitan (una zona de necesidad de transformación social), no se beneficiarían de otros programas ya existentes. A lo largo de este trabajo se describen los contenidos del programa, su estructura y el diseño de evaluación previsto y se discuten sus fortalezas y retos futuros

Both national and international recommendations on positive parenting recognize the need for supporting families in their childrearing tasks, particularly in psychosocial-risk situations. These recommendations highlight local services as the best source to support families. In this paper the Program for Promoting Positive Parenting in Polígono Sur (5P’s) is described. 5P’s is a psycho-educational and community initiative starting from the need for specific materials for vulnerable families because of: (1) their psychosocial profile, (2) their cultural values; (3) living in a neighborhood with at-risk conditions. The contents, the format and the evaluation design of the program are introduced. Strengths and future challenges are discussed

Adversity and adjustment in children in institutions, family foster care, and adoption

This study's objective was to identify the adversity profiles of children in different childcare placements, and to analyze their relationship with subsequent psychological adjustment. We studied a group of 230 children 4 to 10 years old indifferent childcare placements (international adoption, institutional care, non-kin foster care, and kinship care), as well as a control group. Information was collected from parent or caregiver interviews and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The results showed that children in the child welfare system had experienced significant adversity before their current placement, especially among institutional care cases and international adoptees. Meanwhile, children in kinship care had experienced less adversity (p < .001; size effects from d > .50 to d > .80). After a period of time in their respective placements, children's psychological adjustment was generally positive, but children living in institutional care exhibited the most problems and difficulties, followed by non-kin foster care cases (p < .001; size effects from d > .50 to d > .80). Finally, we found that children's early adversity levels (p < .05; r = .16), age of current placement (p < .01; r = .23), and duration of current placement (p < .05: r = -.19) were all tied to current psychological adjustment (AU)

No disponible

Adaptación familiar de niños y niñas adoptados internacionalmente / Family adaptation of internationally adopted children

Este trabajo analiza la adaptación inicial de un grupo de niños y niñas procedentes de adopciones internacionales, así como el posterior ajuste tras como media tres años de convivencia con su familia adoptiva. Participaron 258 niños y niñas y sus respectivas familias residentes en cuatro comunidades del estado español que habían realizado sus adopciones en el extranjero. Padres, madres e hijos fueron visitados y entrevistados en sus propios hogares. Los resultados muestran en general una valoración muy positiva por parte de las familias respecto a su adaptación inicial, a pesar de que buena parte de los niños llegaron con problemas de desarrollo (evaluados con la escala Battelle) leves o moderados (19%) o graves (43%). Tanto el nivel de desarrollo inicial, la adaptación inicial, como los problemas de comportamientos manifestados por los menores se relacionan también con las dinámicas establecidas en estas familias como media tres años después de la adopción. Este artículo aporta datos que nos permiten insistir en la importancia del trabajo previo con las familias que van a adoptar, pero también en la importancia del apoyo y seguimiento en el tiempo una vez que las adopciones se han realizado (AU)

This paper analyzes the initial adaptation of a group of internationally adopted children and their subsequent adjustment after an average of three years living with their adoptive families. The sample consisted of 258 children adopted internationally by families living in four different regional communities in Spain. Fathers, mothers and children were visited and interviewed in their own homes. Results show very positive evaluations from families about children's initial adaptation, although most of the children arrived with mild/moderate (19%) or severe (43%) developmental problems (assessment by Battelle scale). Level of development at arrival, initial adjustment, and behavioral problems are related to the dynamics established in these families three years, on average, after adoption. This paper provides data that allow us to emphasize the importance of preparation of families who are going to adopt, but also the importance of the support and follow-up after adoption (AU)