Impact of Inuit customary adoption on behavioral problems in school-age Inuit children

Dados Bibliográficos

ID9053142
AutoresBéatrice Decaluwe (0009-0008-6039-9953), Sandra W Jacobson (0000-0002-9768-2671, Wayne State University), Marie-Andrée Poirier, Marie‐Andrée Poirier (Montreal Police Service), Nadine Forget-Dubois, Nadine Forget‐Dubois (0000-0002-4285-3293), Joseph L Jacobson (0000-0001-8271-280X, Wayne State University), Gina Muckle (0000-0001-9632-5755)
Ano2015
Volume85
Fascículo3
Páginas250-258
Data de publicação2015-05-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoAmerican Journal of Orthopsychiatry (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0002-9432 • E-ISSN: 1939-0025
EditoraAmerican Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1037/ort0000071
PMID25985112
PMCIDPMC4438859
OpenAlexW2337435006
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas2
Referências citadas12

A large proportion of Inuit children in Arctic Quebec are adopted in accordance with traditional Inuit customs. In contrast to adoptions in Southern Canada and the United States, the child is adopted at birth and by a close family member; he or she knows who his or her biological parents are, and will typically have contact with them. Studies of other populations have reported an increased incidence of behavior problems in adopted compared with nonadopted children. This study examined the actual extent of the increase in the number of behavior problems seen in Inuit children adopted in accordance with traditional customs. In a prospective longitudinal study conducted in the Canadian Arctic (n = 46 adopted and 231 nonadopted children), prenatal and familial variables were documented at birth and at school age (M = 11.3 years). Behavior problems were assessed on the Teacher Report Form of the Child Behavior Checklist. Adopted children lived in more economically disadvantaged families, but their caregivers were less prone to depression, domestic violence, or alcohol abuse compared with those of the nonadopted children. The adoption status was not related to the teacher's report of attention problems, externalizing or internalizing behaviors, after controlling for confounders. Despite less favorable socioeconomic circumstances, a higher extent of behavioral problems was not seen at school age in Inuit children adopted at birth by a family member. Psychosocial stressors associated with adoption are more likely to be responsible for an association with higher levels of childhood behavior problems rather than adoption per se

Alcohol abuse · Checklist · Developmental psychology · Disadvantaged · Environmental health · Political science · Population · Psychiatry · Psychosocial · Socioeconomic status · Stressor · Child Abuse and Trauma · Child Welfare and Adoption · Clinical Psychology · Demography · Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights · Medicine · Psychology