1. The study explored attachment patterns in 60 internationally adopted children aged 7-8 from China, Ethiopia, and Russia based on the Friends and Family Interview. 2. Results showed 83% of children from China had a secure attachment pattern compared to 39% from Russia and 50% from Ethiopia. 3. Younger age of adoption was associated with higher rates of secure attachment - 72% for children adopted within the first year of life compared to 44% for those adopted after 3 years of age. 4. Children from Russia showed more signs of fear/distress (24%) than those from China or Ethiopia. Children from Ethiopia showed no signs of fear/distress or frustration.

1. Attachment Patterns in
Internationally Adopted Children
N.Abrines1, N. Barcons1, D.Marre3, C.Brun1 & A.Fornieles2
1Departament de Psicologia Clínica i de la Salut
2Departament de Psicobiologia i Metodologia de las Ciències de la Salut
3 Departament d’Antropologia Social i Cultural
INTRODUCTION
Internationally adopted children are frequently faced with situations which promote the appearance of an insecure attachment, like
early parental separation, institutionalization periods and frequent caretakers replacements. Furthermore, many studies have
observed association between insecure child-mother attachment relationships and higher levels of both internalizing and
externalizing behavior problems. Even though Spain has the highest rate of international adoption in the world, there are very few
studies of attachment patterns and adoption.
Objective
The aim of the study is to explore the adoption patterns according to their country of origin and age at adoption.
METHOD
• Subjects: 60 children aged 7 to 8 internationally adopted from: China, Ethiopia and Russia.
• Material: Friends and Family Interview (FFI; Steele and Steele, 2006)
• Procedure: 2 trained interviewers assessed the children. Interviews were videorecorded, transcribed
and double-coded.
• Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistical analysis of the qualitative data.
Global inter-rater agreement: 92%: Secure-autonomous: 95 %
Insecure-dismissing: 91%
Insecure- preoccupied: 97 %
Disorganized-disoriented: 93 %
Non-verbal scales: Fear/distress: 85 %; Frustration/anger: 93 %
RESULTS
Attachment patterns and country of origin Attachment patterns and age at adoption
80%
90%
80% 70%
70% 60%
60%
50%
50%
40%
40%
30%
30%
20% 20%
10% 10%
0%
SECURE- INSECURE- INSECURE- DISOGANIZED- FRUSTRATION/ 0%
FEAR/DISTRESS SECURE- INSECURE- INSECURE- DISOGANIZED- FRUSTRATION/
AUTONOMOUS DISMISSING PREOCCUPIED DISORIENTED ANGER FEAR/DISTRESS
AUTONOMOUS DISMISSING PREOCCUPIED DISORIENTED ANGER
China 83% 8% 0% 0% 8% 0% 1-12 months 72% 10% 5% 0% 21% 0%
Russia 39% 26% 21% 4% 24% 4% 13-37 months 61% 23% 13% 0% 9% 0%
Ethiopia 50% 30% 0% 0% 0% 0% > 37 months 44% 27% 6% 7% 8% 6%
1. 83 % of the children adopted from China have a secure- 1. 72 % of the children adopted during the first year of life get a secure-
autonomous attachment pattern. autonomous attachment pattern.
2. 47 % of the children adopted from Russia have a insecure 2. 61% of the children adopted within the first and the third year of age
attachment pattern and a 4% is classified as disorganized. get a secure-autonomous attachment pattern.
3. 50% of the children adopted from Ethiopia have a secure- 3. 44% of the children adopted from 3 years old get a secure-
autonomous attachment pattern, and the 30% left are classified as autonomous attachment pattern vs. 40% who get an insecure
having an insecure-dismissing pattern. attachment pattern.
Non- verbal codes: Non-verbal codes:
1. Children adopted from Russia show more signs of fear and distress 1. 21 % of the children adopted younger show signs of fear and distress.
(24%) than children adopted from China or Ethiopia. 2. Age at adoption does not seem to be related to signs of frustration or
2. Children adopted from Ethiopia show no signs of fear and distress anger.
or frustration and anger.
CONCLUSIONS
1. Country of origin seems to be related to the actual attachment pattern of the children.
2. When younger adopted the attachment pattern tends to be secure-autonomous.
3. The fact that children from Ethiopia show no non-verbal signs seems to be related to the insecure-
dismissing attachment pattern.
Acknowledgments SEJ 2006-2009 15286. Ministry of Education and Science, Spain. Contact: neusabrines@gmail.com