resilience in adolescents adopted from romanian orphanages

147 Pages·2009·3.8 MB·English

RESILIENCE IN ADOLESCENTS ADOPTED
FROM ROMANIAN ORPHANAGES:
A MULTIPLE CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
by
Karen Patricia Kurytnik
M.A., Simon Fraser University, 2003
THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
in the
Faculty ofEducation
© Karen Patricia Kurytnik 2008
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
Fall 2008
All rights reserved. This work may not be
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APPROVAL
Name: Karen Patricia Kurytnik
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy
Title ofThesis: Resilience in Adolescents Adopted from Romanian
Orphanages: A Multiple Case Study Analysis
Examining Committee:
Chair: Dr. Margaret MacDonald
Dr. Lucy LeMare, Associate Professor
Senior Supervisor
Dr. Paul Neufeld, Associate Professor
Committee Member
Dr. Roger Frie, Associate Professor
Internal/External Examiner
Dr. Catherine Ann Cameron, Psychology, USC
External Examiner
Date Defended/Approved:
ii
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iii
ABSTRACT
This study describes resilience (and non-resilience) processes in nine adolescents adopted
between 9.5 and 24 months ofage from Romanian orphanages between 1990 and 1991.
The study was carried out using aqualitative case study methodology incorporating data
from assessments at four time periods-at 11 months post-adoption, age 4.5, age 10.5,
and age 16.5. The data were analyzed using a code and sort procedure similarto the one
described by Bogdan and Biklen (I992). Case studies regarding the participants'
pathways to resilience (ornon-resilience) were categorized according to the ecological
framework (Ungar, Lee, Callaghan, & Boothroyd, 2005; Ungar& the International
Resilience Project Team, 2006) that guides this study. This framework includes:
Individual factors, Relationships factors, Community contexts, Cultural factors, and
Physical ecology factors. Findings indicate that participants' pathways to resilience were
influenced by: (1) Individual factors, including pro-social charactertraits (e.g., being
caring, thoughtful, and sensitive to others' feelings), positive self-esteem, and a sense of
'well-roundedness' thatmanifested itselfin avariety ofinterests including academic,
athletic, musical, and social pursuits; (2) Relationship factors, including early positive
attachments with adoptive parents, consistentcaregiving by stay-at-home parents in the
early childhoodyears, family structure whereby participants received a lot ofindividual
attention, low levels ofparenting stress, and positive peerrelationships; (3) Community
factors, including services that met the families' needs, part-time employment
opportunities that fostered a sense ofresponsibility and confidence in one's abilities, and
positive school environments whereby individual needs were met; and (4) Cultural
factors, including a sense of'ease' with adoption history, and religious affiliation.
Relationship factors seemed to be the most important influence in the participants'
pathways to resilience; and physical ecology factors the least important. Individual
variation was considered throughout the analyses in orderto not lose sight ofthe
complexity ofresilience processes.
This dissertation is dedicated to the children, parents, and teachers who kindly
agreed to participate in the Romanian Adoption project and contribute to our
understandin sofchild developmentand resilience processes.
v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am very grateful to Dr. Lucy Le Mare, my senior supervisor, for her wonderful
guidance and mentorship throughout my years ofgraduate studies. Without her
inspiration, encouragement, wealth ofknowledge, and academic integrity, this thesis
would not be possible. In addition, Iappreciate the many opportunities she provided for
collaboration in various projects, conference presentations, and publications. I would also
like to extend my thanks to Dr. Paul Neufeld for his excellent suggestions and time spent
on draft reviews.
It has truly been apleasure to work with Dr. Karyn Audet, my colleague and
friend, on Phases 3 and 4 ofthe Romanian Adoption Project. Together we found
enjoyment amidst the countless hours ofwork involved in the research process. I also
want to thank the many other graduate students and volunteers who have dedicated their
time to make this study possible.
I owe my deepest gratitude to my husband Ryan, and my wonderful family and
friends for their amazing encouragement and support. Ispecifically want to thank
Samuel's Nana and Grandma who provided me the luxury ofcontinuous days ofwriting
time and kept my little boy entertained. Baby Joshua, aspecial thank you for giving me
'kicks' ofmotivation throughout the final months ofthe writing process, and for timing
your arrival perfectly©.
Finally, I would like to thank all ofthe families who have participated in this
research and shared their invaluable stories and experiences.
vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Approval ii
Abstract iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgements v
Table ofContents vi
List ofTables x
Introduction 1
History ofResilience 2
Defining Resilience 3
An Ecological Model ofResilience 5
Individual Resilience Factors 6
Relationships Resilience Factors 6
Community Resilience Factors 6
Cultural Resilience Factors 7
Physical Ecology Resilience Factors 7
Research onResilience l0
A Case ofSevere Adversity 19
The Present Study 25
Case Study Method for Studying Resilience:
Defining Research Topics Broadly .26
Case Study Method for Studying Resilience:
Covering Contextual or Complex Multivariate Conditions .26
Case Study Method for Studying Resilience:
Relying on Multiple Sources ofEvidence 27
Method 29
Participants 29
Resilient Participants at Age 16.5 32
Liam 32
Cole 32
Heather (Twin ofCole) 33
Mitch 34
Lauren 34
vii
Non-resilient Participants at Age 16.5 35
Alison 35
Jenna 36
Cory 36
Micah 37
Data Sources 37
Time I 40
Demographic Information .40
Parent Interview 40
Revised Denver Prescreening Developmental Questionnaire
(R-DPDQ; Frankenburg, 1986) .41
Gesell Developmental Observation .41
Researcher Observations .42
Time 2 42
Parent Interview 42
The Home Observation for Measurement ofthe Environment Inventory
(HOME; Caldwell & Bradley, 1984) .42
Child Behavior Checklist/4-18 (CBCL; Achenbach, 1991) .43
Parenting Stress Index (PSI; Abidin, 1990) .44
Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, 4th Edition
(SB4; Thorndike, Hagen, & Sattler, 1986) .45
Time 3 45
Parent Interview 45
Canada Quick Individual Educational Test
(Canada QUIET; Wormeli & Carter, 1990) .46
School Questionnaire (NLSCY; Statistics Canada-HRDC, 1997) .46
Child's Education (NLSYC; Statistics Canada-HRDC, 1997) .46
Student's Education (NLSYC; Statistics Canada-HRDC, 1997) .47
The Self-Description Questionnaire
(SDQ-I; Marsh, Smith, & Barnes, 1983; Marsh, 1988) .47
The Children's BehaviourQuestionnaire .48
Relational Provisions and Loneliness Questionnaire .49
Parent Report ofPeerActivities .49
Parenting Practices 49
Time 4 50
Strengths and Challenges 50
Adoption Questionnaire 50
Inventory ofParent and PeerAttachment 50
Romantic Relationships 51
Health Questionnaire 51
Sex-role Orientation 52
Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM; Ungar, 2003) 52
Phone ConversationNotes with Parents 52
Analytic Strategy 53
viii
Results and Discussion 56
Characterization at Time 1 56
Time in Institution 57
Developmental Delays at Adoption 57
Intelligence 58
Family Demographic Factors 59
Reason for Adoption 59
Themes from the Case-StudyAnalyses 60
Individual Factors 60
Temperament 60
Descriptive Adjectives 61
Interests 62
Self-esteem 63
Strengths 64
Challenges 65
Behaviour Problems 67
Academic Performance 68
Diagnoses 68
Relationship Factors 68
Attachment 68
PrimaryCaregiver 70
Family Structure 70
Marriage Status 71
Peerrelationships 73
Romantic Relationships 74
Parenting Stress 74
Parenting Practices 75
Parental 'Outlook' 77
Community Contexts 78
Service Needs 78
Employment 79
School Environment. 80
Cultural Factors 80
Adoption 80
Religion/Spirituality 81
Physical Ecology Factors 82
Orphanage Conditions 82
Adoptive Family Living Environment.. 82
Resilience Scores 83
DiscussionofGeneral Findings and Overarching Themes 84
Interactions Among Resilience Factors 88
The Importance ofRelationships 89
The Case ofLauren 91
The Case ofCory 93
Conceptual Implications 95
Conclusions 98