Berg-Kelly K, Eriksson J
Department of Pediatrics, East Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1997 Dec;6(4):199-206. doi: 10.1007/BF00539926.
There is very little data available on adaptation at adolescence after "visible adoptions" (children adopted from abroad), in terms of mental health, risk-taking and problem behaviour in comparison with nonadopted adolescents. This study describes such an outcome.
Data derived from self-reports from 125 adolescents aged 13-18 years who identified themselves as adopted, and who participated in two epidemiological surveys of 9329 adolescents. Their number was representative for children adopted from abroad. The other adolescents served as controls.
Family life styles showed no differences between groups. Health was similar to that of the controls. Foreign adopted adolescents significantly often evaluated themselves as shorter and with early puberty. The proportion of adopted girls with suicidal thoughts was significantly larger, they also reported school truancy, not using safety belts, sexual intercourse, unpleasant sexual encounters, and contact with illicit drugs more often than the controls. The stress of early puberty could only partly explain this.
Girls adopted from abroad, representing "visible adoptions", need additional attention and study during adolescence to expose causes for maladaption among some of them.
与未被收养的青少年相比，关于“公开收养”（从国外收养的儿童）后青少年期适应情况的数据非常少，涉及心理健康、冒险行为和问题行为等方面。本研究描述了这样一种结果。
数据来自125名年龄在13至18岁之间、自认为是被收养的青少年的自我报告，这些青少年参与了对9329名青少年进行的两项流行病学调查。他们的数量代表了从国外收养的儿童。其他青少年作为对照。
两组之间的家庭生活方式没有差异。健康状况与对照组相似。国外收养的青少年显著更常自我评价为身材矮小且青春期提前。有自杀念头的被收养女孩比例显著更高，她们还比对照组更常报告逃学、不系安全带、性交、不愉快的性接触以及接触非法药物等情况。青春期提前带来的压力只能部分解释这一现象。
代表“公开收养”的国外收养女孩在青少年期需要额外关注和研究，以揭示其中一些人适应不良的原因。
