The effects of illicit drug use during pregnancy and parental hostility on problem behaviors in school-aged children over and above genetic influences.

Previous work has examined the impact of prenatal illicit drug use (PDU) on children's problem behaviors. However, many PDU-related risk factors, including genetic and rearing environmental risks, can also influence offspring's problem behaviors, thus confounding PDU, genetic, and rearing environmental influences. This study aimed to (a) identify effects of PDU on school-aged children's problem behaviors, including both externalizing and internalizing behaviors at Age 7, after controlling genetic and specific rearing environmental (e.g., maternal and paternal hostility at Ages 4.5 and 6) influences and (b) examine interaction effects between PDU and maternal and paternal hostility in predicting children's problem behaviors at Age 7. We used a parent-offspring adoption design to partition genetic and prenatal effects from postnatal rearing environmental influences. Participants were 561 children adopted at birth (42% female; 56% White, 19% multiracial, 13% Black/African American, 11% Latine, and 1% other), their adoptive parents, and their birth parents. Results indicate that PDU did not show a direct impact on Age 7 problem behaviors before or after controlling genetic risks and adoptive mother's and father's hostility. However, we found significant interactions between adoptive father's hostility and PDU when predicting children's problem behaviors, such that higher paternal hostility was associated with higher externalizing and internalizing behaviors for children whose birth mothers were non-use or rare use of illicit drugs during pregnancy. The results suggest that different from non- or rare drug-exposed children, higher levels of PDU may override the effects of paternal hostility, but not maternal hostility, on problem behaviors at Age 7. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

White adoptive parents of children from China, microaggressions, and parental awareness of bias.

In this study, we explored racial microaggressions (RMAs) and adoption microaggressions (AMAs) experienced and committed by white adoptive parents of transracial adoptees. Two research questions guided this inquiry: (a) What types of RMAs and AMAs do white adoptive parents of children adopted from China experience and commit? and (b) how is white adoptive parental awareness of race and adoption related to their committing of microaggressions? Based on qualitative coding of interviews conducted with 39 white adoptive parents of Chinese adoptees, the most frequently coded AMA was Biology is Best for experienced AMAs and Phantom Birth Parents for committed AMAs. Alien in Own Land was the most experienced RMA, and Color Evasiveness was the most committed RMA. Parents tended to have high awareness of the AMAs (87%) and RMAs (89%) they experienced from others, yet this awareness did not preclude them from committing RMAs and AMAs within their transracially adoptive family. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

An examination of early socioeconomic status and neighborhood disadvantage as independent predictors of antisocial behavior: A longitudinal adoption study.

The present study examined early socioeconomic status (SES) and neighborhood disadvantage (ND) as independent predictors of antisocial behavior (ASB) and addressed the etiology of the associations (i.e., genes versus the environment) using a longitudinal adoption design. Prospective data from the Colorado Adoption Project (435 adoptees, 598 nonadopted children, 526 biological grandparents of adoptees, 481 adoptive parents, and 617 nonadoptive parents including biological parents of unrelated siblings of adoptees) were examined. SES and ND were assessed during infancy and ASB was evaluated from ages four through 16 using parent and teacher report. Associations between predictors and ASB were compared across adoptive and nonadoptive families and sex. Early SES was a nominally significant, independent predictor of antisocial ASB, such that lower SES predicted higher levels of ASB in nonadoptive families only. ND was not associated with ASB. Associations were consistent across aggression and delinquency, and neither SES nor ND was associated with change in ASB over time. Nominally significant associations did not remain significant after controlling for multiple testing. As such, despite nonsignificant differences in associations across sex or adoptive status, we were unable to make definitive conclusions regarding the genetic versus environmental etiology of or sex differences in the influence of SES and ND on ASB. Despite inconclusive findings, in nonadoptees, results were consistent-in effect size and direction-with previous studies in the literature indicating that lower SES is associated with increased risk for ASB.

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.

Sleep Health among Children Adopted from Foster Care: The Moderating Effect of Parent-Child Sleep Interactions.

OBJECTIVES: Sleep disruption is prevalent among children placed in foster care, elevating risk for a range of deleterious outcomes. Theoretically, achieving permanency via adoption may have a positive influence on children's sleep via the presence of various factors, but little is known about the sleep health of children adopted from foster care, including predictors and moderators of sleep health. METHOD: The current study included 226 parents who adopted a child from foster care in the U.S. (aged 4-11 years) within the past two years and a propensity score matched sample of 379 caregivers of children currently in foster care. Both samples completed online questionnaires about their child's sleep, physical, and mental health. RESULTS: Comparatively, children in foster care experienced more nightmares, night terrors, moving to someone else's' bed during the night, and worse overall sleep quality, whereas adopted children were reported to experience significantly more nighttime awakenings. In the adopted sample, a greater number of prior foster placements unexpectedly predicted lower total sleep disturbance scores, but this relationship was moderated by parent-child interactions around sleep. In general, greater parental involvement in children's sleep was associated with lower levels of child sleep disturbance. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that while specific sleep problems might remit after children in foster care achieve permanence, nighttime sleep fragmentation often persists. Parent-child interactions surrounding sleep may be pivotal in improving sleep health in this population.

Navigating puberty, identity, and race among transnationally, transracially adopted Korean American adolescents.

This exploratory study examined the relation between pubertal timing and dimensions of ethnic-racial identity among adopted Korean Americans raised transracially in White families. The study also examined whether internalized racism moderated the association between pubertal timing and ethnic-racial identity. Adopted Korean American adolescents (N = 202; 108 females; ages 13-19 years) completed measures of pubertal development, ethnic-racial identity, and internalized racism in 2007. There was no significant main effect of pubertal timing for either male or female adolescents. Internalized racism moderated the relation between pubertal timing and ethnic-racial identity clarity (B = -.16, p = .015) among male adolescents. Specifically, earlier pubertal timing was significantly associated with lower ethnic-racial identity clarity for male adolescents with higher levels of internalized racism.

Facial emotion recognition in adopted children.

Children adopted from public care are more likely to experience emotional and behavioural problems. We investigated two aspects of emotion recognition that may be associated with these outcomes, including discrimination accuracy of emotions and response bias, in a mixed-method, multi-informant study of 4-to-8-year old children adopted from local authority care in the UK (N = 42). We compared adopted children's emotion recognition performance to that of a comparison group of children living with their birth families, who were matched by age, sex, and teacher-rated total difficulties on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ, N = 42). We also examined relationships between adopted children's emotion recognition skills and their pre-adoptive histories of early adversity (indexed by cumulative adverse childhood experiences), their parent- and teacher-rated emotional and behavioural problems, and their parents' coded warmth during a Five Minute Speech Sample. Adopted children showed significantly worse facial emotion discrimination accuracy of sad and angry faces than non-adopted children. Adopted children's discrimination accuracy of scared and neutral faces was negatively associated with parent-reported behavioural problems, and discrimination accuracy of angry and scared faces was associated with parent- and teacher-reported emotional problems. Contrary to expectations, children who experienced more recorded pre-adoptive early adversity were more accurate in identifying negative emotions. Warm adoptive parenting was associated with fewer behavioural problems, and a lower tendency for children to incorrectly identify faces as angry. Study limitations and implications for intervention strategies to support adopted children's emotion recognition and psychological adjustment are discussed.

As funções parentais em casais homossexuais masculinos com bebês / Funciones parentales en parejas homosexuales masculinas con bebés / Parental functions in homosexual male couples with babies

RESUMO O presente estudo objetivou investigar as funções parentais em casais homossexuais masculinos com bebês a partir das teorizações de Winnicott. Trata-se de um estudo de casos com dois casais de homens, um deles adotou a filha logo após seu nascimento, a qual estava com dois anos e cinco meses na época do estudo, e outro recorreu à barriga solidária, cujo filho já estava com um ano e três meses. Foram realizadas entrevistas conjunta e individualmente. Os relatos foram submetidos à análise temática, investigando-se aspectos da prática da parentalidade. Os resultados demonstraram que o vínculo pais-filho(a) foi construído a partir dos cuidados cotidianos, que os casais buscaram dividir de forma igualitária. Foi possível identificar em cada participante tanto aspectos da função materna propostas por Winnicott, quanto da função paterna. Os achados indicam que as funções que os adultos exercem junto aos bebês, mais do que materna e paterna, são funções parentais que independem do gênero ou da orientação sexual do cuidador.

RESUMEN El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar las funciones de los padres en parejas homosexuales masculinas con bebés basándose en las teorizaciones de Winnicott. Este es un estudio de caso con dos parejas de hombres, una de las cuales adoptó a su hija poco después del nacimiento, que tenía 2 años y 5 meses en el momento del estudio, y otra recurrió a la subrogación, cujo hijo ya tenía 1 año y 3 meses. Las entrevistas se realizaron de forma conjunta e individual. Los informes fueron sometidos a análisis temático, investigando aspectos de la practica de la parentalidad. Los resultados mostraron que el vínculo padre-hijo se construyó a partir del cuidado diario, que las parejas trataron de dividir en partes iguales. Fue posible identificar en cada participante ambos aspectos de la función materna propuesto por Winnicott y de la función paterna. Los resultados indican que las funciones que los adultos desempeñan con los bebés, en lugar de maternas o paternas, son funciones parentales que son independientes del género o la orientación sexual del cuidador.

ABSTRACT. The present study aimed to investigate parental functions in male homosexual couples with babies based on Winnicott's theorizations. This is a case study with two male couples, one who adopted their daughter right after her birth, wich was 2 years and 5 months old at the time of the study, and another that resort on surrogacy, with a child of 1 year and 3 months. Interviews were conducted jointly and individually. Participants' reports were submitted to thematic analysis, investigating aspects of parenting practice. The results showed that the parent-child bond was built from daily care, which the couples sought to divide equally. It was possible to identify in each participant both aspects of the maternal and paternal functions proposed by Winnicott. The findings indicate that the functions that adults carry out with infants, rather than maternal and paternal ones, are parental functions that are independent of the gender or the sexual orientation of the caregiver.

Tornar-se pais: uma compreensão gestáltica das diferentes parentalidades contemporânea / Becoming Parents: a Gestalt understanding of the different contemporary parenting / Convertirseen padres: una comprensión Gestalt de la diferente paternidad contemporánea

Família, conceito marcante para sociedade e cultura, importante alicerce das relações interpessoais, mostra mudanças e novos modelos. A decisão em ter filhos passa a ter base na experiência e realização individual, não mais por uma necessidade de modelo de família nuclear tradicional. O estudo teve como objetivo compreender a vivência de algumas modalidades de família na decisão de ter e criar os filhos. Para tal, escolheu-se a Abordagem Gestáltica como fundamentação. A Gestalt-terapia observa o processo, uma integração que nunca se completa. A presente pesquisa investigou três modelos de famílias; monoparental, casal heterossexual e homossexual. A metodologia utilizada foi pesquisa qualitativa fenomenológica. Realizou-se entrevistas semiestruturadas, com dados analisados pelo método de Giorgi. Com as entrevistas, percebeu-se que a chegada do filho traz incertezas, interrogações, novas divisões de tarefas e renúncias por parte das famílias. Conclui-se que as famílias vivem experiências semelhantes independente do seu modelo.

Family, a striking concept for society and culture, an important foundation of interpersonal relationships, shows changes and new models. The decision to have children is based on individual experience and achievement, no longer because of a need for a traditional nuclear family model. The study aimed to understand the experience of some family modalities in the decision to have and raise children. For this, the Gestalt Approach was chosen as the basis. The Gestalt-therapy look at the process, an integration that is never completed. The present research investigated three families models; single-parent, heterosexual and homosexual couple. The methodology used was phenomenological qualitative research. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with data analyzed by the Giorgi method. With the interviews, it was noticed that the arrival of the son brings uncertainties, questions, new divisions of tasks and resignations on the part of the families. We conclude that families experience similar experiences regardless of their model.

La familia, un concepto sorprendente para lasociedad y la cultura, una base importante de las relaciones interpersonales, muestracambios y nuevos modelos. La decisión de tenerhijos se basaenla experiencia y los logros individuales, ya no debido a lanecesidad de un modelo tradicional de familia nuclear. El objetivo delestudiofuecomprenderla experiencia de algunas modalidades familiares enladecisión de tener y criar hijos. Con este fin, el enfoque Gestalt fue elegido como larazón de ser. La terapia Gestalt observa elproceso, una integración que nunca se completa. La presente investigacióninvestigótres modelos familiares; Padres solteros, parejasheterosexuales y homosexuales. La metodología utilizada fuelainvestigación fenomenológica cualitativa. Se realizaron entrevistas semiestructuradascondatosanalizados por el método de Giorgi. Conlas entrevistas, se notó que lallegadadelniñotraeincertidumbres, preguntas, una nuevadivisión de tareas y larenuncia de lasfamilias. Se concluye que lasfamiliasviven experiencias similares independientemente de su modelo.

O estágio de convivência em casos de adoção: uma compreensão fenomenológica / The stage of coexistence in cases of adoption: a phenomenological understanding / La etapa de convivencia en casos de adopción: una comprensión fenomenológica

Este artigo teórico possui como temática o estágio de convivência em casos de adoção, etapa obrigatória em lei na qual crianças aptas para adoção passam a conviver com candidatos habilitados para tal, visando discutir a filiação adotiva e como ela pode ocorrer nesse período. Legalmente, esse momento deve ser acompanhado por equipe psicossocial, sendo emitido parecer técnico sobre o caso. Mas, o que acontece nesse processo? O que deverá ser observado? Uma revisão bibliográfica em três Bancos de Dados concluiu que as produções sobre a temática são insipientes, especialmente do ponto de vista da Fenomenologia. Durante o estágio de convivência, é comum que os pretendentes a pais tentem agradar a criança ou temam sua história, bem como esta pode tentar agradar ou testar os limites. Acompanhar esse período e discutir essas questões possibilita que todos habitem esse lar e essas relações, contribuindo para maior segurança na concretização da adoção.

This theoretical article has as its theme the stage of cohabitation in cases of adoption, a mandatory step in law in which children suitable for adoption pass to live with qualified candidates. It aimed to discuss adoptive filiation and how it occurs in the stage of cohabitation. Legally, this moment must be accompanied by psychosocial team that delivers technical opinion about it. But what happens in this process? What should be observed? A bibliographical review in three Databases concluded that productions on the subject are insipient, especially from the point of view of the Phenomenology. During the cohabitation stage, it's common for parents to try to please the child, or to fear their history, as well as the child try to please or to test limits. Following this period and discussing these issues enables everyone to inhabit this home and these relationships, contributing to greater security in the adoption implementation.

Este artículo teórico posee como temática la etapa de convivencia en casos de adopción, etapa obligatoria en ley en la que niños aptos para la adopción pasan a convivir con candidatos habilitados para tal, buscando discutir la afiliación adoptiva y cómo puede ocurrir en ese período. Legalmente, ese momento debe ser acompañado por equipo psicosocial, siendo emitido dictamen técnico sobre el caso. Pero, ¿qué sucede en este proceso? ¿Qué debe observarse? Una revisión bibliográfica en tres Bases de datos concluyó que las producciones sobre la temática son insípidas, especialmente desde el punto de vista de la Fenomenología. Durante la etapa de convivencia, es común que los pretendientes a padres traten de agradar al niño o teman su historia, así como ésta puede tratar de agradar o probar los límites. Acompañar ese período y discutir esas cuestiones posibilita que todos habite ese hogar y esas relaciones, contribuyendo para mayor seguridad en la concreción de la adopción.

La adopción, ¿cómo se siente?

Diferentes aspectos del proceso de adopción, desde el punto de vista del niño y de la madre y el padre adoptantes: compromiso e involucramiento, expectativas de los adoptantes, derechos del niño adoptado, el trabajo psíquico que se ve implicado en este vínculo, en el proceso de espera, o en el momento del encuentro entre el niño y sus adoptantes.

Enhancing the capacity for optimal social and personality function through the mediational intervention for sensitizing caregivers: A case illustration.

OBJECTIVE: Based on the well-known principle that the ability to meaningfully relate to others starts in the context of early attachment relationships, the current case illustration uses a recent extension of mentalization-based theory and practice to demonstrate how caregivers can enhance the capacity for optimal social and personality function through the mediational intervention for sensitizing caregivers (MISC). METHODS: Case material is presented to demonstrate the implementation of the MISC affective and cognitive components with a mother of an adopted 10-year-old girl who shows signs of affect avoidance, social isolation within and outside the family, and maladaptive personality development. RESULTS: The case illustration shows how video feedback sessions facilitate the gradual use of affective and cognitive components in the daily interactions between mother and daughter, thereby scaffolding optimal social and personality development. CONCLUSIONS: Affective and cognitive components of the Mediational Intervention for Sensitizing Caregiving can be effectively integrated to enhance mentalizing capacity in caregiver-child interactions.

Disentangling nature from nurture in examining the interplay between parent-child relationships, ADHD, and early academic attainment.

BACKGROUND: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is highly heritable and is associated with lower educational attainment. ADHD is linked to family adversity, including hostile parenting. Questions remain regarding the role of genetic and environmental factors underlying processes through which ADHD symptoms develop and influence academic attainment. METHOD: This study employed a parent-offspring adoption design (N = 345) to examine the interplay between genetic susceptibility to child attention problems (birth mother ADHD symptoms) and adoptive parent (mother and father) hostility on child lower academic outcomes, via child ADHD symptoms. Questionnaires assessed birth mother ADHD symptoms, adoptive parent (mother and father) hostility to child, early child impulsivity/activation, and child ADHD symptoms. The Woodcock-Johnson test was used to examine child reading and math aptitude. RESULTS: Building on a previous study (Harold et al., 2013, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 54(10), 1038-1046), heritable influences were found: birth mother ADHD symptoms predicted child impulsivity/activation. In turn, child impulsivity/activation (4.5 years) evoked maternal and paternal hostility, which was associated with children's ADHD continuity (6 years). Both maternal and paternal hostility (4.5 years) contributed to impairments in math but not reading (7 years), via impacts on ADHD symptoms (6 years). CONCLUSION: Findings highlight the importance of early child behavior dysregulation evoking parent hostility in both mothers and fathers, with maternal and paternal hostility contributing to the continuation of ADHD symptoms and lower levels of later math ability. Early interventions may be important for the promotion of child math skills in those with ADHD symptoms, especially where children have high levels of early behavior dysregulation.

The neurocognitive profiles of children adopted from care and their emotional and behavioral problems at home and school.

Adoptees' mental health problems in childhood and later life are well described, but little attention has been paid to domestically adopted children's emotional and behavioral problems and neurocognitive profiles. The aim of this study was to describe the neurocognitive profiles of domestically adopted children in the UK and their parent- and teacher-rated emotional and behavioral problems. Forty-five children (M age = 75.96 months, SD = 12.98; 51.1% female) who were placed for adoption from public care at a M age of 22.14 months (SD = 14.21) completed a battery of age standardized neurocognitive tests, and adoptive parents and school teachers rated their emotional and behavioral problems. Children had more emotional and behavioral problems than the general population and over a fifth scored low (> 1 SD below the expected range for their age) in 5/6 neurocognitive tasks. Children who scored low on the non-verbal reasoning task were more likely to have more parent- and teacher-rated behavioral problems, and children's performance on the inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility tasks were associated with parent-rated behavioral problems. Children's verbal reasoning scores were positively associated with both parent- and teacher-rated emotional problems. Children who were adopted later in childhood scored significantly lower in non-verbal reasoning. Although longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the nature of neurocognitive functioning as a marker for later mental health problems, our findings underscore the importance of using comprehensive assessments to better recognize adopted children's difficulties and inform appropriate intervention initiatives.

Adoptive Gay Father Families: A Longitudinal Study of Children's Adjustment at Early Adolescence.

Findings are presented from the second phase of a UK longitudinal study of 33 gay father, 35 lesbian mother, and 43 heterosexual parent families when their adopted children reached early adolescence. Participants predominantly lived in urban/suburban areas and were mostly white and well-educated. Standardized interviews, observations, and questionnaires of parental mental health, parent-child relationships, and adolescent adjustment were administered to parents, children, and teachers between 2016 and 2018. There were few differences between family types. However, adjustment problems had increased in all family types, with better parenting quality and parental mental health associated with fewer adjustment problems. The findings contribute to adoption policy and practice, and to theoretical understanding of the role of parental gender in child development.

Falhas no reconhecimento da alteridade nos casos de devolução em adoções tardias / La non-reconnaissance de l'altérité dans les cas d'interruption en adoption tardive / No reconocer la alteridad en casos de interrupción en adopciones tardías / Failed recognition of otherness in cases of disruptions in late adoptions

Resumo Este estudo é parte de uma ampla investigação sobre vivência do processo de adoção malsucedida de crianças e adolescentes sob a perspectiva dos adotantes. Foi realizada uma pesquisa qualitativa, com base em entrevistas semiestruturadas com 11 sujeitos independentes, nove mulheres e dois homens, moradores de diferentes estados do Brasil, que passaram por adoções malsucedidas. Neste trabalho, buscamos investigar as falhas no reconhecimento da alteridade do filho, vivenciadas no período do estágio de convivência, nos casos de devolução na adoção. Foi comum, entre os participantes, a busca por uma explicação psicopatológica para os comportamentos considerados ruins da criança/adolescente. Ficou evidente a necessidade de maior investimento afetivo-emocional nos períodos iniciais do estabelecimento do vínculo parento-filial, para o acolhimento da criança/adolescente em sua totalidade e individualidade.

Résumé Cette étude découle d'une recherche approfondie sur l'expérience des adoptions infructueuses d'enfants et d'adolescents du point de vue des adoptants. Axé sur une approche qualitative, on a mené des entretiens semi-structurés avec 11 sujets indépendants (neuf femmes et deux hommes), habitant dans différents États du Brésil, qui ont vécu des adoptions infructueuses. La recherche s'intéresse à l'échec de la reconnaissance de l'altérité de l'enfant, vécues pendant la phase de coexistence, dans les cas d'interruption de l'adoption. Il était courant, chez les participants, la recherche d'une explication psychopathologique aux comportements dit mauvais de l'enfant/adolescent. Les résultats montrent la nécessité d'un plus grand investissement émotionnel-affectif dans les périodes initiales d'établissement du lien parent-enfant, pour accueillir l'enfant/adolescent dans son intégralité et son individualité.

Resumen El presente estudio es parte de una extensa investigación sobre la experiencia del proceso fallido de adopción de niños, niñas y adolescentes desde la perspectiva de los adoptantes. Se realizó una investigación cualitativa, basada en entrevistas semiestructuradas con 11 sujetos independientes, nueve mujeres y dos hombres, residentes en diferentes estados de Brasil, que tuvieron adopciones fallidas. En este trabajo se busca investigar las fallas en el reconocimiento de la alteridad del niño, vividas durante el período de la etapa de convivencia, en los casos de devolución en adopción. Entre los participantes, fue común la búsqueda de una explicación psicopatológica de los comportamientos considerados malos por el niño / adolescente. Era evidente la necesidad de una mayor inversión afectivo-emocional en los períodos iniciales de establecimiento del vínculo pariente-hijo, para acoger al niño / adolescente en su totalidad e individualidad.

Abstract This study derives from a broader investigation on the experience of unsuccessful adoptions of children and adolescents from the adopters' perspective. Based on a qualitative approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 independent subjects (nine women and two men), living in different states of Brazil, who experienced unsuccessful adoptions. The research investigates the failure in recognizing the child's alterity, experienced during the cohabitation stage, in cases of disruptions. Common among the participants was the search for a psychopathological explanation for the child/adolescent's supposed bad behaviors. Results show the need for greater emotional-affective investment in the initial periods of establishing the parent-child bond, to welcome the child/adolescent in their totality and individuality.

Developmental and behavioral profile in a domestic adoptees sample: a new challenge for the pediatrician.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to investigate the changes of developmental and behavioral profile in a domestic adoptees sample. METHODS: Thirty-six domestic adoptive families were recruited, resulting in a sample of 39 children. Families were sent a general questionnaire for collecting data related to the children demographic variables, infant's background (time spent in institutional care, age at adoption), children's health status and anthropometric measures at T0, T1, T2, and T3. Moreover, the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised Very Short Form and a modified version of parent-report of Child Behavior Checklist were used to assess temperament and to detect behavioral problems. RESULTS: As regards the psychopathological evaluation, behavior problems were more common in older children, especially among girls. In particular they exhibited a higher frequency of internalizing problems versus externalizing. CONCLUSIONS: Children in foster care suffer discontinuity of care that negatively affects their emotional and physical development. It is important for pediatricians to be aware of the special needs of adopted children, providing adequate support to adoptive families.

Psychological Wellbeing of Vulnerable Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: A pandemic disaster has specific effects on mental health, however, little is known about those specific effects in children and adolescents. Thus, the aim of this study is to describe the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a sample of children and adolescents and to compare the results with previous national data and other studies to determine variations. METHOD: A total of 459 children and adolescents in residential care, foster families, kinship families, or family strengthening programs under SOS Children's Villages Spain were evaluated using the SDQ to measure internalizing and externalizing problems and using KIDSCREEN-10 index to measure heath related quality of life. An independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA and the chi-square test were used. RESULTS: The children and adolescents in this study had worse psychological wellbeing than those in the 2017 Spanish reference, that is, before the COVID-19 outbreak. Quality of life remained the same. No differences between care modalities were found. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to monitor the mental health status of children and adolescents to prevent possible problems. Additionally, it is necessary to use well-known assessment instruments because it is essential to have a reference to other situations and populations.

Examining the Role of Genetic Risk and Longitudinal Transmission Processes Underlying Maternal Parenting and Psychopathology and Children's ADHD Symptoms and Aggression: Utilizing the Advantages of a Prospective Adoption Design.

Although genetic factors may contribute to initial liability for ADHD onset, there is growing evidence of the potential importance of the rearing environment on the developmental course of ADHD symptomatology. However, associations between family-level variables (maternal hostility, maternal depressive symptoms) and child behaviors (developmental course of ADHD and aggression) may be explained by genes that are shared by biologically related parents and children. Furthermore, ADHD symptoms and aggression commonly co-occur: it is important to consider both simultaneously to have a better understanding of processes underlying the developmental course of ADHD and aggression. To addresses these issues, we employed a longitudinal genetically sensitive parent-offspring adoption design. Analyses were conducted using Cohort I (n = 340) of the Early Growth and Development Study with cross-validation analyses conducted with Cohort II (n = 178). Adoptive mother hostility, but not depression, was associated with later child ADHD symptoms and aggression. Mothers and their adopted children were genetically unrelated, removing passive rGE as a possible explanation. Early child impulsivity/activation was associated with later ADHD symptoms and aggression. Child impulsivity/activation was also associated with maternal hostility, with some evidence for evocative gene-environment correlation processes on adoptive mother depressive symptoms. This study provides novel insights into family-based environmental influences on child ADHD and aggression symptoms, independent of shared parental genetic factors, implications of which are further explicated in the discussion.

Pubertal recalibration of cortisol-DHEA coupling in previously-institutionalized children.

As a period of heightened plasticity, puberty may provide a window of opportunity for recalibration of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to current conditions. Our group has recently documented evidence for pubertal recalibration of HPA axis reactivity among children internationally adopted as infants from institutions into supportive, well-resourced homes. As a first step at examining potential mechanisms by which puberty may facilitate recalibration of the HPA axis, the current study assessed whether previously-institutionalized (PI) children differed from non-adopted (NA) comparison children in levels of the adrenal steroid hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and in its intra-individual covariation (coupling) with cortisol by adrenal pubertal stage. In an accelerated longitudinal design, 7- to 15-year-olds completed up to 3 annual assessments, which included nurse-conducted pubertal staging and the Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Children (TSST-M). Adrenal (pubic hair) rather than gonadal pubertal stage scores were used in the analysis. Paired salivary cortisol-DHEA samples were available at 60-80 min post-TSST-M. NA and PI children did not differ in DHEA levels, which were higher among children at more advanced pubertal stages (averaged across the sessions) for both groups. For NA children, post-stressor cortisol and DHEA were positively coupled across sessions at all average adrenal pubertal stages. For PI children who were, on average, at earlier adrenal pubertal stages, post-stressor cortisol and DHEA were not coupled, but PI children who were at later pubertal stages demonstrated positive cortisol-DHEA coupling similar to that of the NA children. We suggest that these findings provide insights into processes which may underlie pubertal recalibration of the HPA axis.