200 adopted and nonadopted children, ranging in age from 4 to 13 years, were interviewed about their understanding of adoption. Both open-ended interview and structured Q sort procedures were used. Results indicated clear developmental trends in children's knowledge of the nature of the adoptive family relationship, as well as the motivational basis underlying adoption. Relatively few differences were found, however, between adopted and nonadopted children's knowledge of adoption. Results are discussed within the general context of children's acquisition of social knowledge. Implications of the findings for adoption policy and practice also are discussed.

Psychological and academic adjustment were evaluated in a sample of 260 adopted and nonadopted children ranging in age from 6-11 years. Adjustment measures included maternal ratings on Achenbach's Child Behavior Profile and teacher ratings on the Hahnemann Elementary School Behavior Rating Scale. Results indicated that adopted children were rated higher in psychological and school-related behavior problems, and lower in social competence and school achievement, than were nonadopted children. Few age or sex differences were found. Although the results support the position that the risk is greater for adopted children to develop emotional and school-related problems, caution is urged against overinterpreting the data because the majority of adopted children appear to be well-adjusted.

Data from 2 separate samples using the Strange Situation paradigm were combined to assess the quality of attachment relationships in adoptive and nonadoptive mother-infant pairs. Infants were between 13 and 18 months at the time of observation. Results indicated no differences in mother-infant attachment between nonadopted and intraracial adopted subjects or between intraracial and interracial adopted subjects. Interracial adoptive mother-infant pairs did show a higher incidence of insecure attachment in comparison to nonadoptive pairs. Mothers of interracial adopted infants also were less comfortable having others care for their babies and perceived less emotional support from extended family and friends for their decision to adopt a child prior to the actual adoption than did other mothers. No relation was found, however, between quality of mother-infant attachment and either perceived social support, infant developmental quotient, infant temperament, number of foster homes experienced by the infant, or infant's age at the time of adoption placement. It was suggested that the higher incidence of psychological problems found among adoptees in middle childhood and adolescence cannot be explained in terms of insecure attachment relationships during the infancy years.

200 adopted and nonadopted children, ranging in age from 4 to 13 years, were interviewed about their understanding of adoption. Both open-ended interview and structured Q sort procedures were used. Results indicated clear developmental trends in children's knowledge of the nature of the adoptive family relationship, as well as the motivational basis underlying adoption. Relatively few differences were found, however, between adopted and nonadopted children's knowledge of adoption. Results are discussed within the general context of children's acquisition of social knowledge. Implications of the findings for adoption policy and practice also are discussed.

Data from 2 separate samples using the Strange Situation paradigm were combined to assess the quality of attachment relationships in adoptive and nonadoptive mother-infant pairs. Infants were between 13 and 18 months at the time of observation. Results indicated no differences in mother-infant attachment between nonadopted and intraracial adopted subjects or between intraracial and interracial adopted subjects. Interracial adoptive mother-infant pairs did show a higher incidence of insecure attachment in comparison to nonadoptive pairs. Mothers of interracial adopted infants also were less comfortable having others care for their babies and perceived less emotional support from extended family and friends for their decision to adopt a child prior to the actual adoption than did other mothers. No relation was found, however, between quality of mother-infant attachment and either perceived social support, infant developmental quotient, infant temperament, number of foster homes experienced by the infant, or infant's age at the time of adoption placement. It was suggested that the higher incidence of psychological problems found among adoptees in middle childhood and adolescence cannot be explained in terms of insecure attachment relationships during the infancy years.