You may hear concerns about the psychological health of people who are adopted, especially if you tend to get your news from social media. But there is scientific research on the subject that can clarify the question of adoption and mental health, and provide both reassurance and practical guidelines.
Adoption can lead to better outcomes
A recent study in the British Medical Journal looked at pairs of siblings where one child had been adopted and the other was raised by the biological parents. More than 14,000 adoptees were included in the study, with both full biological siblings and half siblings in the mix. All the adopted children were adopted before age 10.
Researchers found that the adopted children were less likely than the kids raised by their biological parents to be diagnosed with psychiatric disorders: 29.8% of the adopted children had such diagnoses compared with 36.1% of those brought up by their biological parents. That is, the kids who were brought up in homes where the parents at some point decided that they were not able to parent a child were more likely to have mental health issues than those brought up in homes with adoptive parents were well prepared and wanted the children. This is not to say that adoptive parents are better than biological parents. It does, however, show that biological parents who choose to place their child in an adoptive home are generally making a good choice. It also makes it clear that adoption does not lead to poor outcomes in mental health.
The researchers concluded that the adopted children had benefited from more positive early environments and better early child-rearing.
According to the National Institutes of Health, just over 23% of Americans are diagnosed with mental disorders, with younger people receiving these diagnoses more often than older people. Among people 18-25, 36% had such a diagnosis. The data does not include children. These numbers show that the proportion of adopted individuals with mental health issues in the study was not out of line with the general population.
Challenges for adopted children
Children whose biological moms are not ready to parent may face some real challenges to mental health. Alcohol and drug use during pregnancy may be more common. The children may have multiple caregivers, such as friends and family members who step in temporarily when the parents are unable to cope. They may be in foster care, either short-term or long-term. The parents may be unprepared for parenting specifically because they have mental health issues. For these and other reasons, children who are available for adoption may have experienced trauma in their early lives, before they found a stable, loving home.
Research from the University of Minnesota found that mental health issues are moderately more likely in adopted children. “While the majority of adopted youth are psychologically healthy,” they concluded, “they may be at elevated risk for some externalizing disorders.” The study in the BMJ described above showed that for those children who might be at greater risk for such problems, the improved environment in their adoptive homes made it less likely that they would suffer from psychological disorders than if they had not been adopted.
Should would-be adoptive parents worry about mental health?
There are no guarantees for parents — whether they adopt or have biological children. Mental health, like physical health, is a blessing and not a given. But the data does not support the idea that adoption causes mental health problems. Nor is the likelihood of psychological problems much greater among people who have been adopted than among the general public.
All parents should be sure to keep up with wellness visits with their pediatricians and to ask about any concerns they may have about their children’s mental health. That’s not something different about adoption.
Heimer Law specializes in adoption. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about adoption or the adoption journey.
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