The Impact of Child-Parent Relationship Quality on Neurodevelopmental Problems in Adoptees

Abstract

Childhood maltreatment has previously been associated with neurodevelopmental (ND) problems, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder symptoms. Attachment plays an important role in neurodevelopment; however, its role in adoptees who suffered maltreatment and their adoptive parents, has not yet been fully explored. A review of a range of attachment-based interventions has tentatively suggested that attachment-based interventions may reduce neurodevelopmental problems in looked after children.

This exploratory study aimed to provide greater understanding on how child maltreatment affects neurodevelopmental problems and how the parent-child relationship with the adoptive parents, may play a role in this, as a moderator or protective factor.

Data from 94 children 6 to 11 years old, adoptees with a history of maltreatment (n=26) and biological children without experiences of maltreatment (n=68), was analysed to explore the relationship between maltreatment and ND outcomes. A moderation analysis was run to see whether parent-child relationship had an influence on that association. Results indicated that adoptees had significantly higher scores on inattention and hyperactivity. Adoptees were three times more likely to meet screening criteria for further autism assessment. The moderation analysis was not significant.

Findings were consistent with previous research, where child maltreatment has been associated with ND outcomes. However, despite previous evidence indicating that the attachment relationship may influence the ND problems in children in care, our hypothesis of this relationship being a potential protective factor was not confirmed. There were significant power issues due to the small sample of adoptees.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Jana Kreppner: orcid.org/0000-0003-3527-9083

ORCID for Dennis Golm: orcid.org/0000-0002-2950-7935

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