Behavior problems in adolescence among international adoptees, pre-adoption adversity, and parenting stress

The evolution of behavior problems from school age to adolescence and their relationships with early risk factors and parenting stress were examined among 71 international adoptees. Children's health status and development were assessed soon after arrival in their family to provide indices of early adversity. At ages 7 and 15, self-report measures (DI and DIA) were used to evaluate behavior problems while mothers completed the CBCL. Mothers also completed the Parenting Stress Index and Stress Index for Parents of Adolescents. A lower percentage of children reported internalizing problems during adolescence than at school age while mothers reported a decrease in externalizing problems over age. A few correlations were found between internalizing and externalizing symptoms and early risk factors. However, these links were sequentially mediated by parenting stress at school age and in adolescence. The potential impact of parenting stress on international adoptees' psychological adjustment is discussed.