ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Minerva Pediatrica 2020 October;72(5):433-9

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4946.16.04767-8

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

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

Pietro FERRARA ^{1, 2} ✉, Costanza CUTRONA ², Chiara GUADAGNO ², Maria AMATO ², Annamaria SBORDONE ², Roberto SACCO ³, Gianni BONA ⁴

¹ Institute of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Sacred Heart Catholic University, Rome, Italy; ² Service of Pediatrics, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy; ³ Neurodevelopmental Disorders Unit, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy; ⁴ Department of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy

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.

KEY WORDS: Adoption; Adopted child; Behavior