Attachment, cognitive, and motor development in adopted children: short-term outcomes after international adoption.

OBJECTIVE To examine infant attachment and developmental functioning shortly after international adoption. METHODS At 14 months, infant-mother attachment and mental (MDI) and psychomotor (PDI) development were assessed in 70 internationally adopted children. Mean age at arrival was 5.5 months, mean stay in the adoptive family 8.7 months. RESULTS Adopted children's MDI and PDI did not deviate from normative scores. Also, their secure-insecure attachment distribution was comparable with that of normative groups. However, more adoptees were disorganized attached (36 vs. 15% in normative groups). Temporary residence in a foster home in the country of origin before adoption was related to higher MDI and PDI, whereas disorganized attachment in the adoptive family was related to lower MDI and PDI scores. CONCLUSIONS The majority of internationally adopted children form secure attachment relationships and function at normative developmental levels shortly after adoption. Residence in a foster family before adoption may partly prevent developmental delays.