Adjustment of adolescent adoptees: The role of age of adoption and exposure to pre-adoption stressors

This study on 169 adolescents in Israel who were adopted between birth and nine years old examined whether and how their adjustment was affected by their age of adoption and the pre-adoption stressors they had experienced. The study participants reported moderately close relations and open communication with their parents, along with age appropriate peer orientation; high self-esteem; low levels of problem behaviors (as assessed by the Youth Self Report) and very low use of addictive substances and school dropout rates compared to the average in Israel. The findings showed no association between any of the outcomes assessed and either age of adoption or pre-adoption stressors.

Research Highlights
► We examined the adjustment of 169 teens adopted in Israel from birth through age 9.
► Focus was placed on the impact of age of adoption and pre-adoption stressors.
► Self-esteem, parent and peer relations, and problem behaviors were assessed.
► Generally good adjustment was found on all the study measures.
► Age of adoption and pre-adoption stressors were not related to adoptees' adjustment.