Do Adopted Kids Have More Mental Health Issues?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Twelve to 14 percent of in the United States between the ages of 8 and 18 are diagnosed with a mental health disorder each year

, and adopted children are almost twice as likely as children brought up with their biological parents to suffer from mood disorders like anxiety, depression, and behavioral …

What is adopted child syndrome?

Adopted child syndrome is

a controversial term that has been used to explain behaviors in adopted children that are claimed to be related to their adoptive status

. Specifically, these include problems in bonding, attachment disorders, lying, stealing, defiance of authority, and acts of violence.

Are most adopted children psychologically healthy?

While

the majority of adopted youth are psychologically healthy

, they may be at elevated risk for some externalizing disorders, especially among those domestically placed.

Do adoptees have trust issues?

It is likely that

most adoptees would admit that they struggle with trust issues

.

Is being adopted a trauma?


Adopted kids are not only traumatized by the original separation from their parents, they may also have been traumatized by the events that led to them being put up for adoption

. In addition to that, foster care itself is considered an adverse childhood experience.

Can you get PTSD from being adopted?

Problems with developing an identity. Reduced self-esteem and self-confidence. Increased risk of substance abuse.

Higher rates of mental health disorders, such as depression and PTSD

.

Can being adopted cause borderline personality disorder?


Adoptees had a 1.81-fold increase in the odds of any personality disorder compared with non-adoptees

. Adoptees had increased odds of histrionic, antisocial, avoidant, paranoid, schizoid, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder compared with non-adoptees.

Are adopted kids more likely to be depressed?

Twelve to 14 percent of adopted children in the United States between the ages of 8 and 18 are diagnosed with a mental health disorder each year, and

adopted children are almost twice as likely as children brought up with their biological parents to suffer from mood disorders like anxiety, depression, and behavioral

What are the psychological effects of adoption?

Potential for Lasting Mental or Emotional Trauma

Possible psychological effects of adoption on the child may include:

Struggles with low self-esteem

. Identity issues, or feeling unsure of where they ‘fit in' Difficulty forming emotional attachments.

Do all adopted kids have attachment issues?

That can be very frightening and discouraging to prospective adoptive parents who realize that

most children adopted from foster care have some degree of attachment problems

. It is important to understand that while attachment issues are part of these youths behaviour problems, they are not the sole cause.

Are adopted people emotionally damaged?

US studies have found that

adopted children are at a greater risk of experiencing emotional and behaviour problems than non-adopted children

.

How does being adopted affect relationships?

Being Adopted

May Not Affect Your Relationships At All

Not all adopted adults and their relationships struggle. Not all adoptees have experienced significant negative impacts from adoption. And even if you do struggle with emotional issues related to your adoption, those issues may not affect your relationships at all.

Do all adoptees have issues?


Every adoptee is different

, and no one knows an adoption story like the individual most affected. Some adoptees believe that their adoptee relationship issues stem from their placement with adoptive parents. Because every adoptee's experience is unique, they may very well be right, for their situation.

Do adopted children do worse?

More than half of parents told us that their adopted child has always had problems in school but

they got significantly worse in the teenage years

. Nearly two thirds (64 per cent) of parents feel that the teenage years are or were the most difficult time for their child at school.

Why are adoptees so angry?

In a nutshell, I think we adult adoptees have hidden triggers that creep up in several predictable and sometimes unpredictable places in our lives. These triggers cause us to feel anger because

we are covering up emotions that we do not feel we should feel for fear of abandonment

.

Why is adoption a trauma?

Isolation, Secrecy, and Shame Negatively Impact Trauma

The life of an adopted person is impacted by the

lack of information on their story and lack of validation of what they have been through

.

Is an adopted child more likely to be like his or her birth parents or adoptive parents?

Personality Adoption Studies

After hundreds of adoption studies on personality were conducted, the results revealed that

adopted children's personalities are more like those of their biological parents

whom they've never met than their adoptive parents who raised them.

How do you overcome adoption trauma?

  1. Trauma creates fear and stress sensitivity in children. …
  2. Recognize and be more aware of fear being demonstrated by your child. …
  3. Recognize the impact of trauma in your own life. …
  4. Reduce external sensory stimulation when possible. …
  5. Do time-in instead of time-out.

How can adoption affect a child?

Emotional or Mental Trauma

As an adoptee learns to accept and move forward from their personal history, they may experience a few psychological effects of adoption on children, like:

Identity issues (not knowing where they “fit in”) Difficulty forming emotional attachments

.

Struggles with low self-esteem

.

How many adopted children committed suicide?

Of those,

7.6%

of adoptees attempted suicide compared with 3.1% of children living with their biological families. The current study should stand as a warning to clinicians to take the concerns of adoptive parents seriously, Dr. Keyes said.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.