LeidenAttachment Research Programme: Adoption 


In the Leiden Attachment Research Programme adoption is studied from the perspective of attachment theory, as adoption implies the breaking and making of emotional bonds.

Central questions are:

• What are the long-term sequelae of adoption for the adoptees? and
• How can adoptive parents be supported in their difficult task to rear their adopted children?
  
  

Staff: Femmie Juffer, Marinus H. van IJzendoorn, Marian J. Bakermans-Kranenburg, Wendy Tieman, Linda van den Dries.  

Key publications  


Current Studies    

A Longitudinal Study of Adoption, Attachment, and Problem Behavior        

In a prospective, longitudinal study, starting at 6 months of age, maternal sensitivity, early infant-mother attachment and competence were studied in 160 infants adopted from Sri Lanka, South Korea and Colombia. At age 7, a follow-up of the 160 children, plus 30 adoptees recruited at this age, was completed; the attrition rate appeared to be low (8%). In a second follow up at the age of 14 years the adoptive families and the adolescent adoptees have been visited. In the near future a new follow-up study at 21 years of age will be conducted. In the follow-up studies, the adjustment of the adoptees has been assessed, including their cognitive development (IQ and school achievement), their socio-emotional functioning (e.g., peer group popularity), and their problem behavior.

Staff: Femmie Juffer, Marinus H. van IJzendoorn, Marian J. Bakermans-Kranenburg

Key publications

Adoption Meta-Analysis Project (Adoption MAP)      

The aim of the Adoption Meta-Analysis Project is to examine adopted children’s adjustment and development in a series of meta-analyses these are analyses of the results of many research projects. The focus is on growth, social-emotional en cognitive development, IQ, school performance, behavioral problems and self esteem.

Staff: Femmie Juffer, Marinus H. van IJzendoorn

Key Publications


Attachment in Adoptive Families  

The aim of this project is to study adopted children’s attachment security and its determinants and consequences.

Staff: Femmie Juffer, Marinus H. van IJzendoorn, Marian J. Bakermans-Kranenburg, Linda van den Dries, Monique van Londen (Utrecht University)

Key publications 



Adjustment and development of international adoptees  

In this project the adjustment and development of children adopted from China and from India are examined through large-scale surveys.  

Staff: Femmie Juffer, Wendy Tieman

Key publications   



Children Adopted from Children’s Home Metera ( Greece)    

The aim of this project is to study children’s attachment security and competence during and after institutional care in children’s home Metera in Greece.

Staff Dr. Vorria (Greece), Marinus H. van IJzendoorn    

Key publications


Children Adopted from a Children's Home's in Mumbai (India)(current research)


This research describes the development of Indian children during institutional care and after their adoption.   

Staff: Femmie Juffer,

Research on the development of adopted children from China.(current research)


The aim of this project is to study the development of adopted children after placement in the adoptive family. The mental and motor development, behavior and the attachment of 100 girls from China are studied 2 and 6 months after placement.

Staff: F. Juffer, M. H. van IJzendoorn, M. J. Bakermans-Kranenburg, L. van den Dries  

Research in Children's Home's in Ukrain.  (current research)

In this project the physical, cognitive and socio-emotional development of children in children's homes in the Ukrain is compared with children in families in the Ukrain. Some children have been infected with HIV. Staff:  M.H. van IJzendoorn, M.J. Bakermans-Kranenburg, F. Juffer, N. Dobrova-Krol    



Research of adult adoptees. (current research, in cooperation with Erasmus MC-Sophia, Rotterdam).  

A new follow-up research on adult adoptees is being started.   


Staff: W. Tieman, F. Juffer, M.H. van IJzendoorn, M.J. Bakermans-Kranenburg (Universiteit Leiden), F.C. Verhulst, H. Tiemeier, en J. van der Ende (Erasmus, Rotterdam)