SECTION: Institutionalisation – Orphan Studies
TOPIC: Attachment
SUMMARY OF KEY IDEAS (K/U)
1. Orphan studies focuses on developmental effects on those children permanently left by caregivers
(deprivation/privation.) Institutionalisation is when a child stays in an institution for a long time, often with little care
provided.
2. In the 1990’s the president required all Romanian women to have five children causing a surge in orphanages with poor
conditions, many were adopted by British parents. (Leading to the start of research.)
3. Disinhibited Attachment – children were equally friendly to familiar and unfamiliar people contrasting stranger anxiety
(stages of attachment research.) Shows children adapt to living with multiple caregiver unable to form singular
relationships. May benefit social skills but deeper relationships difficult to form.
4. Intellectual Disability – when arriving to adoption families many lacked intellectual development but if they were
adopted before six months, they were more likely to catch up.
RELEVENT EVIDENCE
Rutter et al – DEVELOPMENT - followed 111 Romanian orphans adopted by UK families to investigate the extent good care
can make up for institutionalisation. The longitudinal study assessed ages 4, 6 and 11, then re-assessed 21 years later.
Initially many showed low intellectual development and undernourishment, those who were adopted later on (after 6
months) had significantly lower IQ than others.
Attachment development varied whether the child was adopted before or after 6 months.
Zenah et al – ATTACHMENT – used a control group of children who had never been institutionalised and 95 Romanian
orphans aged 12-31 months that spent most of their life institutionalised. He compared attachment types using The
Strange Situation – 74% of the control were securely attached (similar to original study) but only 19% of the orphans were
securely attached – more orphans showed disinhibited attachment.
PEEL STRENGTH PEEL WEAKNESS
Real World Application – better understanding of the Lack of longitudinal data – although some data extends
effects (negative) has led to improved conditions with to mid-20’s, data doesn’t go further than that. Long term
fewer carers for an orphan focusing on specific effects cannot be fully investigated as some question
attachments. Institutions are now not desirable and best mental health factors and further relationships such as
efforts are made to avoid this outcome by parenting (usually formed later in life.) It is possible the
accommodating in foster care or adoption. later adopted children still can catch up but data is not
known.
Children have better development chances.
PEEL WEAKNESS
PEEL STRENGTH Social sensitivity – the published research may cause
Few confounding variables – due to the Romanian damaging effect on development. While growing up
situation, all children experienced similar experiences information on these children may lower expectations
and neglect. With other orphan studies it is difficult to from peers ,treating them differently. It also creates a
know the levels of abuse/neglect experienced creating sense of self-fulfilment – lack of belief from the children
flaws in results, but this research has higher internal themselves.
validity.
But generalisability on other orphan children may be
difficult as the Romanian care was especially poor –
results may reflect poor institutional care rather than
institutional care.
TOPIC: Attachment
SUMMARY OF KEY IDEAS (K/U)
1. Orphan studies focuses on developmental effects on those children permanently left by caregivers
(deprivation/privation.) Institutionalisation is when a child stays in an institution for a long time, often with little care
provided.
2. In the 1990’s the president required all Romanian women to have five children causing a surge in orphanages with poor
conditions, many were adopted by British parents. (Leading to the start of research.)
3. Disinhibited Attachment – children were equally friendly to familiar and unfamiliar people contrasting stranger anxiety
(stages of attachment research.) Shows children adapt to living with multiple caregiver unable to form singular
relationships. May benefit social skills but deeper relationships difficult to form.
4. Intellectual Disability – when arriving to adoption families many lacked intellectual development but if they were
adopted before six months, they were more likely to catch up.
RELEVENT EVIDENCE
Rutter et al – DEVELOPMENT - followed 111 Romanian orphans adopted by UK families to investigate the extent good care
can make up for institutionalisation. The longitudinal study assessed ages 4, 6 and 11, then re-assessed 21 years later.
Initially many showed low intellectual development and undernourishment, those who were adopted later on (after 6
months) had significantly lower IQ than others.
Attachment development varied whether the child was adopted before or after 6 months.
Zenah et al – ATTACHMENT – used a control group of children who had never been institutionalised and 95 Romanian
orphans aged 12-31 months that spent most of their life institutionalised. He compared attachment types using The
Strange Situation – 74% of the control were securely attached (similar to original study) but only 19% of the orphans were
securely attached – more orphans showed disinhibited attachment.
PEEL STRENGTH PEEL WEAKNESS
Real World Application – better understanding of the Lack of longitudinal data – although some data extends
effects (negative) has led to improved conditions with to mid-20’s, data doesn’t go further than that. Long term
fewer carers for an orphan focusing on specific effects cannot be fully investigated as some question
attachments. Institutions are now not desirable and best mental health factors and further relationships such as
efforts are made to avoid this outcome by parenting (usually formed later in life.) It is possible the
accommodating in foster care or adoption. later adopted children still can catch up but data is not
known.
Children have better development chances.
PEEL WEAKNESS
PEEL STRENGTH Social sensitivity – the published research may cause
Few confounding variables – due to the Romanian damaging effect on development. While growing up
situation, all children experienced similar experiences information on these children may lower expectations
and neglect. With other orphan studies it is difficult to from peers ,treating them differently. It also creates a
know the levels of abuse/neglect experienced creating sense of self-fulfilment – lack of belief from the children
flaws in results, but this research has higher internal themselves.
validity.
But generalisability on other orphan children may be
difficult as the Romanian care was especially poor –
results may reflect poor institutional care rather than
institutional care.
