Johnson Rebecca, Browne Kevin, Hamilton-Giachritsis Catherine
School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK.
Trauma Violence Abuse. 2006 Jan;7(1):34-60. doi: 10.1177/1524838005283696.
A recent survey has revealed a large number of young children in institutional care across Europe. Young children placed in institutional care without parents may be at risk of harm. This review considers systematically the research evidence on the impact of institutional care on brain growth, attachment, social behavior, and cognitive development. Analytical epidemiological study designs (i.e., including a control/comparison group) show that young children placed in institutional care are at risk of harm in terms of attachment disorder and developmental delays in social, behavioral, and cognitive domains. Delays in physical growth, neural atrophy, and abnormal brain development have also been implicated. The findings suggest that the lack of a one-to-one relationship with a primary caregiver is a major cause of harm to children in residential care. Evidence indicates that infants who are placed in institutional care will suffer harm to their development if they are not moved to family-based care by the age of 6 months. The neglect and damage caused by early privation and deprivation is equivalent to violence and policy makers should work to ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow up in a family environment.
最近的一项调查显示，欧洲有大量幼儿处于机构照料之中。没有父母陪伴而被安置在机构照料中的幼儿可能面临受伤害的风险。本综述系统地考量了关于机构照料对大脑发育、依恋关系、社会行为和认知发展影响的研究证据。分析性流行病学研究设计（即包括对照组/比较组）表明，被安置在机构照料中的幼儿在依恋障碍以及社会、行为和认知领域的发育迟缓方面存在受伤害的风险。身体发育迟缓、神经萎缩和大脑发育异常也与之相关。研究结果表明，缺乏与主要照料者的一对一关系是寄宿照料中儿童受伤害的主要原因。有证据表明，被安置在机构照料中的婴儿如果在6个月大之前没有转至家庭照料，其发育将会受到损害。早期剥夺和匮乏所造成的忽视与损害等同于暴力，政策制定者应努力确保每个儿童都有机会在家庭环境中成长。
