What is Adoption?
Adoption is a social, emotional, and legal process by which children become full and permanent legal members of a family that is not their biological family (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2020).
Children may react differently to their new home and family after the adoption. As a result, it’s important to be prepared for the potential outcome of this new chapter in their lives on their mental health wellness.
Mental Health Risks
Anxiety and Depression
Research has been found that adopted children are twice as likely to suffer from mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Children’s depression is defined as persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest that interfere with their ability to function in school and interact with others, whereas children’s anxiety is defined as persistent fears, worries, or anxiety that interfere with their ability to participate in play, school, or any other appropriate social situation.
Attachment Issues
Even if they are adopted in the early days, weeks, or years of their life, they can still suffer from attachment difficulties due to this early and fundamental loss. The most common attachment disorder that they may develop is Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), the adopted child frequently exhibits consistent emotionally withdrawn behavior toward their adoptive parents; specifically, when he or she is emotionally distressed, he or she responds minimally or seeks comfort. They also have unexplained irritability, sadness, and emotional pain that does not seem to be triggered by anything.
Other Mental Health Disorders
According to Keyes, Sharma, Elkins, Iacono, and McGue (2008), 7 to 8 out of 100 non adopted adolescents had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder compared with 14 to 15 out of 100 of the adoptees. In addition, domestic adoptees had higher odds of having a Conduct Disorder than non-adopted adolescents. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is diagnosed when a person struggles to maintain attention, is hyperactive, and exhibits impulsive behavior, whereas Conduct Disorder in children is diagnosed when they exhibit an ongoing pattern of aggression toward others, as well as serious violations of rules and social norms at home, school, and with peers.
Signs of Mental Illness in Children
Here are some signs that your child might be suffering from mental illness:
- Maintaining attention is difficult
- Hyperactivity
- Having more trouble at school
- Avoiding friends and family
- Lack of energy or motivation
- Not sleeping well or is having bad dreams
- Eating significantly more or less than usual
- Difficulty concentrating
- Changes in academic performance
- Avoiding or missing school
- Persistent sadness for two or more weeks
- Or anything unusual in the typical behavior of your children
If these signs persist, please seek professional help. Shirley Therapeutic and Consulting Services, LLC is a diverse therapy clinic that can meet the needs of anyone. If you’d like to talk about your own or your family member’s mental health, feel free to message us here or refer us to them.
References
Adopted children often face mental health struggles as young adults. Claudia Black Center. (2021, August 2). Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://www.claudiablackcenter.com/adopted-children-often-face-mental-health-struggles-as-young-adults/.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, March 22). Behavior or conduct problems in children. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/behavior.html.
Kaplan, A. (2020, November 16). Adoption and mental illness. Psychiatric Times. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/adoption-and-mental-illness.
Keyes, M. A., Sharma, A., Elkins, I. J., Iacono, W. G., & McGue, M. (2008). The Mental Health of US adolescents adopted in infancy. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 162(5), 419. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.162.5.419
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2019, June 25). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/adhd/symptoms-causes/syc-20350889.
Reactive attachment disorder and adoption – discovery mood & anxiety. Discovery Mood & Anxiety Program. (2021, July 19). Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://discoverymood.com/blog/reactive-attachment-disorder-adoption/.
Trudden, A. (2020, November 1). National Adoption Awareness Month. Protean. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://www.heartbeatinternational.org/national-adoption-awareness-month.
