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Long-term Outcomes for Children and Adolescents After International Adoption

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Abstract

Evidence suggests that most children who are adopted internationally fare well in their adoptive homes. However, there are a number of factors that contribute to the outcomes of these children, including genetic loading, prenatal environments and the pre-adoptive environments. Timing of and age at adoption play an important role in determining neurodevelopmental and behavioral outcomes of children adopted internationally. Children and adolescents who are adopted internationally are at increased risk of having difficulties with academic performance, psychiatric disorders, and identity development compared to non-adopted peers in their new home country. One role of the primary care provider is to assist adoptive parents in maintaining a healthy relationship with the adopted child and preventing adoption disruption.

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Correspondence to Heidi Schwarzwald .

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Schwarzwald, H., Collins, E., Gillespie, S., Spinks-Franklin, A. (2015). Long-term Outcomes for Children and Adolescents After International Adoption. In: International Adoption and Clinical Practice. SpringerBriefs in Public Health(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13491-8_4

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