In another study researchers examined attachment security and indiscriminately friendly behavior in children adopted from Romanian Orphanages. This study had two goals, the first was to assess differences in attachment security between children adopted to Canada after at least 8 months in Romanian orphanages and two comparison groups of children. The second goal was to assess the presence of indiscriminately friendly behavior in children adopted from Romanian orphanages, and to evaluate whether their behavior was present to a greater extent than the comparison group. Indiscriminately friendly behavior was characterized as behavior that is affectionate and friendly toward all adults (including strangers) without the fear or caution characteristic of normal children. The subjects in this study were broken down into three groups, an experimental group and two comparison groups.
SUBJECTS: .
The Experimental Group referred to as RO consisted of 46 children, (20 boys and 26 girls) who had spent at least 8 months in a Romanian orphanage prior to their adoption to Canada. The ages of these children ranged from 8 months old to 5 ½ years old, the median age at adoption was 18.5 months old. Time spent in a Romanian orphanage ranged from 8 months to 4 ½ years, the median length of time was 17.5 months. The first comparison group referred to as CB consisted of 46 Canadian-born, non-adopted children (20 boys and 26 girls). Each was matched in sex and age to a child in the RO group. The second comparison group referred to as RC consisted of 29 children, (14 boys and 15 girls) who were adopted to Canada before they were 4 months old. This group was matched in sex and age to a subgroup of 29 children in the RO group.
PROCEDURE:.
Parents of the RO children were interviewed in the homes for about 2.5 hours. All interviews were audiotaped. Questionnaires were left with the parents to complete and return by mail.
