IQ and Behavioural Adjustment of Ex‐Institutional Adolescents

A group of children raised in institutions until at least 2 years of age, then adopted or restored to a biological parent, have been followed longitudinally into mid‐adolescence. No effect of early institutionalisation was found on 1Q, which depended largely on the type of family placement. Behavioural and emotional difficulties were more common in the ex‐institutional group than in a matched comparison group, according to teacher questionnaires and interviews with the adolescents and their parents The findings are discussed in relation to placement policy and the question of the long‐term effect of early experience.