Is Early Experience Destiny? Review of Research on Long-Term Outcomes following International Adoption with Special Reference to the British Chinese Adoption Study

The pathway from adverse early experience to adulthood for internationally adopted children is complex in identifying key influences, impacts, and outcomes. This review arose from the authors’ involvement in the British Chinese Adoption Study, a recent outcomes study that explored the links between...

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Main Authors: Margaret Grant, Alan Rushton, John Simmonds
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/6303490
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author Margaret Grant
Alan Rushton
John Simmonds
author_facet Margaret Grant
Alan Rushton
John Simmonds
author_sort Margaret Grant
collection DOAJ
description The pathway from adverse early experience to adulthood for internationally adopted children is complex in identifying key influences, impacts, and outcomes. This review arose from the authors’ involvement in the British Chinese Adoption Study, a recent outcomes study that explored the links between early orphanage care, adoptive experiences, and midadulthood. It differs from previous reviews in focusing on a greater length of time since adoption. Both quantitative and qualitative studies were included to allow for examination of a fuller range of adult-related outcomes rather than mental health scores alone. The sampling, methods, and results of reviewed articles are summarised and a critical commentary is provided. Despite methodological differences and identified strengths and weaknesses, conclusions are drawn on the basis of the evidence available. Special attention is paid to the interpretation of negative outcomes. Findings identify areas that should be explored further in order to gain a fuller understanding of midlife outcomes of people who experienced a poor start in life followed by international adoption. Such studies help in refining lifespan developmental theories.
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spelling doaj-art-a685faeb0ac040548a19c04480cb264e2025-08-20T03:38:38ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal2356-61401537-744X2016-01-01201610.1155/2016/63034906303490Is Early Experience Destiny? Review of Research on Long-Term Outcomes following International Adoption with Special Reference to the British Chinese Adoption StudyMargaret Grant0Alan Rushton1John Simmonds2CoramBAAF Academy of Adoption and Fostering, London WC1N 1AZ, UKInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UKCoramBAAF Academy of Adoption and Fostering, London WC1N 1AZ, UKThe pathway from adverse early experience to adulthood for internationally adopted children is complex in identifying key influences, impacts, and outcomes. This review arose from the authors’ involvement in the British Chinese Adoption Study, a recent outcomes study that explored the links between early orphanage care, adoptive experiences, and midadulthood. It differs from previous reviews in focusing on a greater length of time since adoption. Both quantitative and qualitative studies were included to allow for examination of a fuller range of adult-related outcomes rather than mental health scores alone. The sampling, methods, and results of reviewed articles are summarised and a critical commentary is provided. Despite methodological differences and identified strengths and weaknesses, conclusions are drawn on the basis of the evidence available. Special attention is paid to the interpretation of negative outcomes. Findings identify areas that should be explored further in order to gain a fuller understanding of midlife outcomes of people who experienced a poor start in life followed by international adoption. Such studies help in refining lifespan developmental theories.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/6303490
spellingShingle Margaret Grant
Alan Rushton
John Simmonds
Is Early Experience Destiny? Review of Research on Long-Term Outcomes following International Adoption with Special Reference to the British Chinese Adoption Study
The Scientific World Journal
title Is Early Experience Destiny? Review of Research on Long-Term Outcomes following International Adoption with Special Reference to the British Chinese Adoption Study
title_full Is Early Experience Destiny? Review of Research on Long-Term Outcomes following International Adoption with Special Reference to the British Chinese Adoption Study
title_fullStr Is Early Experience Destiny? Review of Research on Long-Term Outcomes following International Adoption with Special Reference to the British Chinese Adoption Study
title_full_unstemmed Is Early Experience Destiny? Review of Research on Long-Term Outcomes following International Adoption with Special Reference to the British Chinese Adoption Study
title_short Is Early Experience Destiny? Review of Research on Long-Term Outcomes following International Adoption with Special Reference to the British Chinese Adoption Study
title_sort is early experience destiny review of research on long term outcomes following international adoption with special reference to the british chinese adoption study
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/6303490
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