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Mental health and psychological adjustment in adults who were adopted during their childhood: A systematic review

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  • Melero, Sandra
  • Sánchez-Sandoval, Yolanda

Abstract

In the two last decades, research of the psychosocial needs of adopted children and adolescents has advanced dramatically. Nevertheless, less is known about their mental health when they reach adulthood. The aim of this paper is to systematically review the evidence about mental health and psychological adjustment in adult adoptees. A systematic search was conducted on Web of Science and PsycInfo. The review includes 27 studies that fulfilled the selection criteria (ages between 20 and 40, domestic adoptions and articles published since 1995). Evidence suggests that psychological adjustment in adult adoptees is more unfavourable (with higher levels of depression, anxiety, personality and behavioural disorders and neuroticism) than in non-adoptees. A small group of studies shows similar psychological adjustment of adoptees and non-adoptees. Moreover, there is evidence that the adopted population is quite heterogeneous, involving individual and contextual variables. There are clear diagnostic differences when gender is taken into account. Some family variables (e.g., attachment, parenting styles) emerge as mediating factors of the effects of the adoptive status on psychological adjustment. Other risk and protective factors have been insufficiently studied (e.g., age at the time of adoption), so additional research is needed.

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  • Melero, Sandra & Sánchez-Sandoval, Yolanda, 2017. "Mental health and psychological adjustment in adults who were adopted during their childhood: A systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 188-196.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:77:y:2017:i:c:p:188-196
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.05.006
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Havlicek, Judy R. & Garcia, Antonio R. & Smith, Douglas C., 2013. "Mental health and substance use disorders among foster youth transitioning to adulthood: Past research and future directions," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 194-203.
    2. Stott, Tonia, 2013. "Transitioning youth: Policies and outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 218-227.
    3. Sánchez-Sandoval, Yolanda & Palacios, Jesús, 2012. "Stress in adoptive parents of adolescents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(7), pages 1283-1289.
    4. Anthony, Rebecca & Meakings, Sarah & Doughty, Julie & Ottaway, Heather & Holland, Sally & Shelton, Katherine H., 2016. "Factors affecting adoption in Wales: Predictors of variation in time between entry to care and adoptive placement," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 184-190.
    5. Fowler, P.J. & Toro, P.A. & Miles, B.W., 2009. "Pathways to and from homelessness and associated psychosocial outcomes among adolescents leaving the foster care system," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(8), pages 1453-1458.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yolanda Sánchez-Sandoval & Sandra Melero & Ana María López-Jiménez, 2020. "Mediating Effects of Social Support in the Association Between Problems in Childhood and Adolescence and Well-Being in Adult Domestic Adoptees," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 1183-1198, April.
    2. Mary V Seeman, 2020. "Similar psychosis risks in adoptees and immigrants," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(3), pages 292-299, May.
    3. Wright, Anna W. & Carlson, Kiri & Grotevant, Harold D., 2022. "Internalizing symptoms and use of mental health services among domestic adoptees," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    4. Neil, Elsbeth & Rimmer, Julia & Sirbu, Irina, 2023. "How do adopted adults see the significance of adoption and being a parent in their life stories? A narrative analysis of 40 life story interviews with male and female adoptees," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).

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