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Background: Little is known about bullying experienced by internationally adopted teens residing in Europe. Objectives: Within the framework of an international research effort involving several European countries, the main goal of this study was to explore the experiences of bullying victimization suffered by adopted adolescents, as well as its impact on their psychological adjustment. Methods: The sample consisted of 199 adolescents born in Eastern European countries and adopted in France (n = 50), Italy (n = 59), Norway (n = 25) and Spain (n = 65). Results: More than half of the adopted adolescents had been exposed to some form of peer victimization in the previous 2 months, with verbal harassment and social exclusion being the most common forms of victimization. Differences between receiving countries were not statistically significant, suggesting a common pattern for Eastern European adopted adolescents living in Western Europe. More frequent experiences of peer victimization were associated with more psychological difficulties among the adopted adolescents. Conclusions: Findings highlight that adopted adolescents might have considerable difficulties in social integration with peers; these experiences of peer victimization might play an important role hindering their psychosocial adjustment. The socioemotional development of adopted people is not only linked to their pre‐adoptive experiences; factors in their daily lives (i.e., peer relationships) may also be associated with their psychological adjustment later in life. Interventions are needed to promote the real inclusion of these groups of children in their social and educational contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: In the context of global changes in the epidemiology of internationally adopted children (IACs), the prevalence of infectious diseases and nutritional impairment has not been recently reviewed. Moreover, in France, these characteristics of the children according to their continents of origin and preadoption special needs (SN) status have been incompletely explored. Methods: Demographic, infectious data and anthropometric of all the newly arrived IACs seen in a specialised clinic for international adoptees in Paris, France, between 2013 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Three hundred and fifty IACs [mean age: 3.4 years (±2.7), 204 male] from 39 countries were included; 55% had SN. Ninety‐nine patients had at least one infection, 42% being classified as 'serious' (chronic viral infection, tuberculosis or malaria). Chronic viral infection was diagnosed in 26 (7%) patients (HIV: 16 cases, HBV: 5, HCV: 4) and affected especially Asian children (P <.001). The prevalence of stunting, underweight, wasting and microcephaly was, respectively, 25%, 22%, 15% and 8%. Stunting was more frequent in children from Eastern Europe (P =.02), while SN children were more often microcephalic or underweight (respectively P =.03 and.02). Conclusion: The prevalence of serious infections and nutritional impairment remains high in IACs and requires early detection and careful follow‐up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No comprehensive studies have examined the utility of family drawings within the context of international adoption. We examined the relationship of Kinetic Family Drawings by 54 internationally adopted children in the USA (65% female;Mage = 8.57 years, SD = 2.1) to demographics, child competencies (Child Behavior Checklist: CBCL/6–18) and parental adoption satisfaction (Adoption Satisfaction Questionnaire: ASQ). Two raters independently scored drawings for:emotion(positive, neutral and negative),boundaries(unifying and dividing),family composition(inclusion of family members),interactivity(active or passive) andself-emphasis.Drawing features moderately correlated with CBCL subscales (emotion,boundaries, drawing composite: rrange = −.43 to 0.31, allp < .05) and parental adoption satisfaction (boundaries:r = .42,p< .01). Significant drawing differences were also observed by gender, time since adoption, orphanage care and adoption visibility. These findings support the utility of family drawings as an informative, supplemental tool highlighting concerns related to children's pre- and post-adoption experiences, and their impact on family function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to describe reflections of nine American parents on the strengths, challenges, and strategies in parenting young children newly adopted from another country. Eight mothers and one father with an adopted child aged <3 years and home for <3 months completed standardized assessments measuring the child's social emotional development, sensory processing, and parental stress. Each parent participated in qualitative interview to discuss challenges and strategies helpful in addressing their children's needs. All parents reported challenges addressing their child's needs in the areas of sleep, feeding, attachment and self-regulation, and soothing. Parents reported similar strategies to address their child's behavioral concerns. Parents also reported on family factors and community resources that supported the success of the adoption. Although many families described their adoptive child as having challenges with multiple daily life activities, parents reported being able to create effective strategies to address many of these challenging behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the results of a 2006 research study which looked at the long term developmental, neurobehavioral, and educational performance outcomes of a group of 8 to 12 year old children from Eastern Europe who had been adopted by families in the United States. Researchers used a parent questionnaire which was mailed to families of school-age Eastern European adopted children who had been in the United States for two years or more. Research found that while two-thirds of the children received special education services and 35% had multiple neurodevelopmental disorders, most displayed excellent social, peer and family integration skills.

ABSTRACT Background. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori ) infection has been linked to gastritis, diarrhea, peptic ulcers, failure-to-thrive, anemia, as well as predisposition to gastric malignancies. Because many internationally adopted children have diarrhea, failure-to-thrive, and anemia on arrival to the US, we determined the prevalence of HP antibodies among these children. Methods. Serum samples from 226 unselected children from 18 countries who were evaluated in the International Adoption Clinic at New England Medical Center were tested for antibodies to H. pylori . The results of serologic screening were analyzed in relation to age at adoption, site of residence prior to adoption, weight and height, and the presence or absence of anemia, diarrhea, or intestinal parasites. Results. 31% of internationally adopted children had antibodies to H. pylori . The presence of H. pylori -antibodies was associated with residence in an orphanage (vs. foster care) prior to adoption, older age at adoption, and coinfection with intestinal parasites. No direct effects on height or weight were identified; no associations with diarrhea or anemia were found. Conclusions. Internationally adopted children have a high incidence of exposure to H. pylori , as diagnosed serologically. Residence in an orphanage (compared with foster care), older age at adoption, and coinfection with intestinal parasites were more common among children seropositive for anti-H. pylori antibodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 65% of French parents report >1 special need in their internationally adopted child. • Child SN were associated with different feelings and perceptions among parents. • Parents reported that children with SN more often experienced exclusion and prejudice. • Special needs (SN) may complicate stigma due to adoption or ethnic differences. Both adoption status and ethnic differences may contribute to stigmatization and microaggressions experienced by adopted individuals and their families. Internationally adopted children have been increasingly recognized to have elevated rates of special needs (SN), especially learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), emotional-behavioral problems, and medical-physical issues. However, relatively little is known about the feelings, perceptions, and stigma experienced by families of internationally adopted children with SN. 461 French parents responded to a questionnaire (308 on-line, 153 paper) regarding their feelings and perceptions after international adoption (feelings of difference, ease of attachment, similarities to and dissimilarities from their child), as well as their views of their child's feelings and experiences (difference, exclusion, and prejudice). Parents were asked if their children were diagnosed by professionals as having special needs, specifically: (1) medical/physical conditions, (2) ADHD, (3) learning disabilities, or (4) emotional-behavioral difficulties. Results were compared for parents of children with or without SN. The children (57%M; 43%F) of the parent respondents were adopted from 47 countries. The children were age (mean ± SD) 3.19 ± 2.59 years old at arrival and 11.33 ± 5.03 years old at the time of the survey. 301 (65%) parents reported that their child had at least one SN: physical-medical SN (13% of children) were reported significantly less often than the other 3 categories (ADHD 39%, learning disabilities 36%, emotional-behavioral problems 40%). Overall, parents reported 652 distinct SN among these 301 children: 102/301 (34%) had a diagnosis in a single category, whereas 199/301 (66%) had diagnoses in at least two categories. SN diagnoses varied by continent of origin: Eastern European children had proportionally more ADHD, learning disabilities, and emotional-behavior problems, as well as more diagnoses per child. Compared with parents of non-SN children, parents of SN children (especially those with learning disabilities or emotional-behavioral problems) significantly more often endorsed feelings of difference, more difficulties attaching to their child, and fewer similarities to and more dissimilarities from their child. The SN parents also more often reported that their child experienced exclusion and/or prejudice. The more SN diagnosed in their children, the more likely their parents' feelings and perceptions differed from parents of children without SN. These relationships remained significant after controlling for arrival age, current age, gender, and adoption visibility, and after adjusting for exclusion due to adopted status or country of origin. Compared to adoptive parents of children without SN, parents of children with SN report differing patterns of perceptions and feelings. Child SN represent an additional burden for parents of internationally adopted children, and for their children's feelings and experiences (difference, exclusion, and prejudice, as reported by the parents). These perceptions and feelings are present, even when the SN are not physically obvious. SN must be recognized as an increasingly common, complex, and added dimension to the issues of adoptive status and (often) ethnic differences faced by internationally adopted children and their parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author reflects on the risks concerning the transmission of communicable diseases from international adoptees to their families in the U.S. She asserts that internationally adopted children may be the cause on the spread of various diseases acquired from their home countries, including tuberculosis, hepatitis B and rubella. The author contends that public awareness concerning the health risks offered by international adoptees should be considered.

The article focuses on fatalities in children who have been adopted from countries outside the U.S. It explains that parents who adopt from foreign countries are generally perceived to be attentive parents, and contrasts this stereotype with the examples of fatal child abuse cases. It describes the demographics of the victims and their families, and explores possible causes, including postadoption depression. The article also recommends that adoption agencies and other services be aware of the psychological aspects of international adoption.

Focuses on the mental health and behaviors of internationally adopted children. Social and historical aspects of adoption; Claim that adoptive families tend to be economically and socially advantaged, with access to medical and psychological health services; Impact of the age at adoption on the child's long term mental health; Impact of a lack of reliable birth parent information on the prediction of a child's mental health; Increasing social acceptance of adoption and adopted children; Comparison of the mental health outcomes of internationally adopted children with those of domestically adopted and nonadopted children; Need for further research on the impact of family demographics on the child's mental health outcomes; Importance of addressing the mental health needs of internationally adopted children.

The article focuses on support for adoptive parents. It explains that children adopted from countries outside the U.S. may need more support from child psychologists, schools, and pediatricians. It also comments on the fatalities among internationally adopted children as previously discussed in the journal. The U.S. policies on adoption are discussed, and it clarifies the fact that adoption is not necessarily a risk factor in child abuse. The article also encourages further research about and services for international adoption.

Editorial. Focuses on the issue of caring for internationally adopted children. Statistics on the number of children adopted in the United States from other countries; Possible diseases carried by these children; Reference to a boy in North Dakota who came from the Marshall Islands with infectious tuberculosis; Need for specialized medical attention to international adoptees; Screening tests conducted in the countries from which the children are adopted; Suggestions from the American Academy of Pediatrics.