Wolfson Centre Lectures - The mental health and neuropsychological profile of children adopted from care: support needs in the context of family life

Lecture focus

Early life adversity can have profound and long-term consequences for child development. Most children adopted from the public care system in the UK are removed from their birth family following experiences of abuse or neglect. As an intervention, adoption drastically alters a child’s circumstances in a way that may compensate for adversity experienced in early life.

However, adoptees remain more likely to experience emotional and behavioural problems that endure into later life. Adopted children are also overrepresented within clinical settings and lag their classmates academically. The Wales Adoption Cohort Study (2015-2020) had the overarching aim of increasing understanding of the factors that support successful outcomes for Welsh children adopted from care.

Professor Shelton’s talk will: 1) profile the early experiences, neuropsychological and mental health of Welsh children adopted from care in 2015; 2) consider the impact of family relationship quality on children’s mental health and 3) consider some of the professional support needs for families in light of these findings.