Adopted children's behavior problems: A review of five explanatory models

Although the majority of adopted children are well-adjusted, adopted childr en evidence proportionately more behavior problems when compared to nonadop ted children in both clinic and nonclinic populations. An extensive literat ure examining behavioral, diagnostic, and demographic characteristics of ad opted children has provided several plausible explanations for the high rat e of behavior problems among adopted children. In this review, the existing literature is organized into five explanatory models: (a) genetic or "bios ocial" factors, (b) pathogenesis of the adoption process, (c) long-term eff ects of impaired preadoption childrearing, (d) referral bias in adoptive pa rents, and (e) impaired adoptive parent-adoptee relations. We conclude that evidence for each model is mixed at best. Especially noteworthy is the mix ed results for genetic or biosocial studies and the relative absence of stu dies focused on identifying factors associated with disruptions in the adop tive parent-adoptee relationship. We propose that a psychosocial model to e xplain the high rate of behavior problems among adopted children is highly plausible and further suggest that it may be time for a new awareness and a ppreciation for the normative aspects of adoption. An overview of parenting and family characteristics associated with risk factors for antisocial beh avior is provided as a guide for future research. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.