Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine whether adopted children with early experiences of institutional care are at an increased risk of developing behavioural difficulties. The participants were 52 adopted adolescents aged 13 years. The comparison group comprised 36 adolescents of the same age who were brought up in their biological families. The adopted young people were more overactive and inattentive at school compared with those raised in their birth families. No between-group differences were found on feelings of loneliness and social dissatisfaction, on quality of friendships with peers and on self-esteem. Adopted adolescents also tended to be more often referred to psychological services.
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