Abstract
In this study, the authors compared the behavioral development of 4- to 8-year-old South Korean children placed in institutional care (n = 230) or adopted internationally (n = 382), with age of entry, parental status, reason for institutionalization, and postinstitutionalization parental contact as risk factors for institutionalized children. There was a placement effect of adoption and support for age of entry and parental status as risk factors. Relinquished children institutionalized before age 2 fared the poorest across groups. Children institutionalized after age 2 with deceased/unknown parents fared best among institutionalized children. Institutionalization due to family disruption was a risk for relinquished children only, whereas parental contact did not increase the risk for behavioral problems. The unique sample population and other limitations are discussed.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 468-478 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Developmental psychology |
| Volume | 46 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 2010 |
Keywords
- Korean
- behavioral development
- institutional care
- institutionalized children
- international adoption