Issues underlying behavior problems in at-risk adopted children

Research and practice literature have examined behavior problems in adopted children, and many studies have found that adoptees from about age 6 throu gh adolescence demonstrate more behavior problems than non-adopted children (Berry, 1992; Brodzinsky, Radice, Huffman, & Merkler, 1987; Dickson, Heffr on, & Parker, 1990; Grotevant, McRoy, & Jenkins, 1988; Rogeness, Hoppe, Mac edo, Fischer, & Harris, 1988). In particular, special needs adoptees who ha ve been removed from birth homes due to maltreatment are vulnerable to ongo ing behavioral and emotional difficulties that often do not abate over time (Nelson, 1985; Rosenthal & Groze, 1991; Rosenthal & Groze, 1994). The most common behavior problems among these adopted children are external behavio r problems indicative of children diagnosed as having "conduct disorders," who are acting out anti-socially in response to a number of internal negati ve feelings such as anger, powerlessness, law self-esteem, fear, and anxiet y (Smith & Howard, 1991; 1994).