A prospective, longitudinal study of children registered for adoption. A 15-year follow-up.

A cohort of 624 children, candidates for adoption as infants, were investigated at 11 and 15 years of age. At 11 years these children ran a greater risk than classmates of developing nervous disturbances and symptoms of maladjustment, regardless of whether they were growing up in adoptive home, a foster home or with their biological mother. At 15 years there was little difference in adjustment between the adopted children and their classmates, whereas children growing up in foster homes or with their biological mothers displayed a high proportion of social maladjustment and/or underachievement at school. The implications of these findings for child placement policies are discussed.