Early caregiving quality predicts consistency of competent functioning from middle childhood to adolescence following early psychosocial deprivation

The quote only partly states this claim.

Adolescents who had experienced institutional care were less likely than family-reared peers to be competent at all three assessments from ages 8 to 16.

“Adolescents with a history of institutional care were less likely to be consistently competent compared to those who were family reared.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Across the combined never and ever institutionalized sample, the proportion of adolescents in the always competent versus not always competent categories differed by sex.

“Across the entire sample (never and ever institutionalized children combined), there were sex differences in the proportion of adolescents in the always competent versus not always competent categories (χ2[1]=4.64, p=.031, V=.203).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Never institutionalized girls were more likely than never institutionalized boys to be always competent.

“Upon further probing, never institutionalized girls were more likely to be always competent (n=15, 79%) compared to never institutionalized boys (n=6, 40%).”

May combine two claims.

There were no differences in the number of placement disruptions between always versus not always competent adolescents or between never versus ever competent adolescents.

“There were no differences in the number of placement disruptions between adolescents in the always versus not always competent categories or the never versus ever competent categories.”

May combine two claims.

Among foster care adolescents, stable and disrupted placement groups did not differ significantly in the proportion never competent, though the difference was 11% versus 33% with a medium effect size.

“Across middle childhood and adolescence, only 11% (n=2) of adolescents with a stable placement were never competent compared to 33% (n=8) of adolescents with a disrupted placement, however, the test was not statistically significant (χ2[1]=2.80, p=.094, V=.258).”

• Also stated in: § Early Placement into Foster Care and Stability of Foster Care Placement · hedged

  “However, there appeared to be meaningful differences in the proportion of adolescents who were never competent compared to ever competent with a medium effect size, despite these differences not being statistically different.”

May combine two claims.

Three percent of never institutionalized adolescents and 24% of ever institutionalized adolescents were in the never competent category.

“Only 3% (n=1) of never institutionalized group adolescents were in the never competent category compared to 24% (n=19) of ever institutionalized adolescents.”

May combine two claims.

Sixty percent of never institutionalized adolescents and 17% of ever institutionalized adolescents were in the always competent category.

“In fact, 60% (n=21) of never institutionalized group adolescents were in the always competent category compared to just 17% (n=13) of ever institutionalized adolescents.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Institutional care is linked to adverse cognitive, biological, and socioemotional outcomes in children.

“Research on the negative impact of institutional care across domains of functioning (i.e., cognitive, biological, and socioemotional) is well established, as is the capacity for altered trajectories towards more positive developmental outcomes when children are removed from institutional care and placed into families (for a review, see Nelson, Fox, & Zeanah, 2014).”

• cites Nelson, Fox, & Zeanah, 2014Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Children with institutional care histories are more likely than never institutionalized peers to have health difficulties in early adolescence that limit functioning.

“Aside from psychological and academic concerns, children with a history of institutional care are also more likely than their never institutionalized peers to have health difficulties in early adolescence that limit their ability to function (Humphreys et al., 2018).”

• cites Humphreys et al., 2018 sourceNot checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Children with institutional rearing histories have high rates of inattention and over-activity, particularly males.

“Children raised in institutional settings have, on average, higher levels of internalizing and externalizing behavior in adolescence (Colvert et al., 2008; Humphreys et al., 2015; Wade, Fox, Zeanah, & Nelson, 2018) as well as high rates of inattention and over-activity, particularly among males (Humphreys et al., 2015; Stevens et al., 2008).”

• cites Humphreys et al., 2015 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites Stevens et al., 2008 sourceNot checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Adolescents with institutional care histories have poorer school performance than those reared in their biological families.

“Additionally, poorer school performance among adolescents with a history of institutional care compared to those reared in their biological family has also been reported (Attar-Schwartz, 2009; Vorria et al., 2015).”

• cites Attar-Schwartz, 2009 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites Vorria et al., 2015 sourceNot checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Adoption after age 24 months, compared with adoption before that age, was associated with more hyperactive behavior and greater use of psychological services.

“Furthermore, being adopted after age 24 months, relative to prior to this age, was associated with more hyperactive behavior and greater use of psychological services compared to children adopted prior to age 24 months or those raised in their biological families.”

• cites Vorria et al., 2015 sourceNot checked yet

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Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Children were randomly assigned to foster care or care as usual after baseline.

“Following the baseline assessment, children were randomly assigned to either the foster care group (n=68) or the care as usual group (n=68), who remained in institutional care.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Prior findings indicate that children with institutional care histories tend to have lower competent functioning in early adolescence than never institutionalized community children.

“Previous findings (reviewed above) suggested that children with a history of institutional care tend to have lower levels of competent functioning in early adolescence compared to never institutionalized community children (Humphreys et al., 2018).”

• cites Humphreys et al., 2018 sourceNot checked yet

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Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

The RCT used an intent-to-treat design and analyses were based on original randomization group.

“The RCT followed an intent to treat (ITT) design, therefore, analyses were based on the original randomization group.”

May combine two claims.

Kreppner et al. (2007) reported that patterns of normal functioning and impairment were established by 6 months of age and that continuity was common.

“They reported that patterns of normality and impairment were established early (by 6 months of age), and continuity was common.”

• cites Kreppner et al., 2007 sourceNot checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Resilience is considered a dynamic process that can adapt and change over time.

“Given that resilience (i.e., the development of competence despite exposure to early deprivation) is believed to be a dynamic process subject to adaptation and change over time (Masten, 2014; Masten & Cicchetti, 2010), it is important to consider functioning following adversity at multiple time points across development.”

• cites Masten, 2014 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites Masten & Cicchetti, 2010 sourceNot checked yet

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Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Observations of child-caregiver interactions were coded by raters masked to participant status and study design.

“Observations of the children interacting with preferred caregiver were videotaped at age 42 months and later coded by raters masked to participant status or study design (see McGoron et al., 2012).”

• cites McGoron et al., 2012 sourceNot checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

In one study, children adopted out of institutional care had competence levels similar to never institutionalized adolescents.

“Furthermore, children adopted out of institutional care at a younger age tend to have higher levels of competence and more sustained competence in adolescence compared to children who remain in institutional care for longer periods of time (Humphreys et al., 2018; Kreppner et al., 2007; Vorria et al., 2015), and in one study, similar levels of competence compared to never institutionalized adole”

• cites Vorria et al., 2015 sourceNot checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Questionnaires were translated into Romanian, back-translated into English, and assessed for meaning by bilingual staff.

“All questionnaires were translated into Romanian, then back translated into English, and assessed for meaning at each step by bilingual research staff.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The SEBS had limited psychometric data but good internal consistency across 27 items in the present sample (α=.71).

“Psychometric data on this scale are limited, however, good internal consistency was demonstrated across all 27 items in the present sample (α=.71).”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Complete competence data across all three waves were required for inclusion, and no data estimation procedures were used.

“We required complete competence data across all three waves of assessment for inclusion in the present report, and no data estimation procedures were used.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

In this sample, YRBS items had internal consistency α=.64 at age 12 and .80 at age 16 for substance use and risk-taking.

“Items from the YRBS contributed to the substance use and risking-behavior domains at ages 12 (α=.64) and 16 years (α=.80).”

May combine two claims.

The age-12 competence threshold (6+ of 7 domains) was previously established and validated against IQ and physiological reactivity.

“The threshold for competent functioning at age 12 (i.e., 6+ domains out of 7) was previously established in Humphreys and colleagues (2018) and validated against IQ and physiological reactivity to stress.”

• cites Humphreys et al., 2018 sourceNot checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

In this sample, SSRS items had internal consistency α=.74 at age 8, .77 at 12, and .89 at 16 for family relations.

“Items from the SSRS contributed to the family relations domain of competent functioning at ages 8 (α=.74), 12 (α=.77), and 16 years (α=.89).”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Among adolescents assessed at age 16, complete competence data from ages 8-16 were available for 64% of care as usual, 81% of foster care, and 70% of never institutionalized.

“Of the 55 care as usual group adolescents assessed at age 16 years, 35 (64%) had compete competence data age 8 through 16 years. Of the 53 foster care group children assessed at age 16 years, 43 (81%) had compete competence data. Of the available 50 never institutionalized adolescents assessed at age 16, 35 (70%) had compete competence data.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The BEIP study design was reviewed and approved by three IRBs and the local Commission on Child Protection.

“The BEIP study design was reviewed and approved by the three institutional review boards of the principle investigators as well as the local Commission on Child Protection in Bucharest, Romania.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The YRBS has documented successful use in previous research.

“Successful use of the YRBS in previous research has been documented (Aklin, Lejuez, Zvolensky, Kahler, & Gwadz, 2005; Lejuez, Aklin, Zvolensky, & Pedulla, 2003; MacPherson, Magidson, Reynolds, Kahler, & Lejuez, 2010).”

• cites Aklin, Lejuez, Zvolensky, Kahler, & Gwadz, 2005Not checked yet

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• cites Lejuez, Aklin, Zvolensky, & Pedulla, 2003Not checked yet

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• cites MacPherson, Magidson, Reynolds, Kahler, & Lejuez, 2010Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The SSRS has established internal consistency and good convergent validity.

“Internal consistency and good convergent validity have been established (Gresham, Elliott, Vance, & Cook, 2011).”

• cites Gresham, Elliott, Vance, & Cook, 2011Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Children who met the age-12 competence threshold had high IQ scores and greater diastolic blood pressure and pre-ejection period reactivity.

“Children who met the threshold for competence had high IQ scores and greater diastolic blood pressure and pre-ejection period reactivity.”

• cites Humphreys et al., 2018 sourceNot checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Multiple cut-offs were examined and 6+ domains for ages 12/16 and 5+ for age 8 were neither too lenient nor too restrictive.

“Multiple cut-offs were examined, and it was ultimately discovered that 6+ domains for ages 12 and 16 years and 5+ domains for age 8 years were the thresholds that were neither too lenient nor too restrictive.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The HBQ has been used with institutionally reared children and has good psychometric properties.

“The HBQ has been used with institutionally reared children (Wiik et al., 2011) and has demonstrated good psychometric properties (Ablow et al., 1999).”

• cites Wiik et al., 2011 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites Ablow et al., 1999 sourceNot checked yet

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May combine two claims.

There was substantial variability in competence across middle childhood and adolescence following a history of institutional care, in part explained by randomization to foster care.

“There was substantial variability in competence across middle childhood and adolescence following a history of institutional care, in part explained by randomization to foster care.”

May combine two claims.

No children in the BEIP were placed prior to 6 months of age, so the effect of placement before 6 months could not be tested.

“We were not able to test the effect of placement prior to 6 months of age because no children in the BEIP were placed prior to 6 months of age.”

May combine two claims.

In the ERA study, children placed early showed higher rates of sustained normal functioning from age 6 to 11, but that study used a 6-month placement threshold.

“Notably, in the ERA study, there were higher rates of sustained “normal” functioning across childhood (from age 6 to 11 years) for children placed early, however, they used an earlier placement threshold of 6 months of age (Kreppner et al., 2007).”

• cites Kreppner et al., 2007 sourceNot checked yet

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At 54 months, before any placement disruptions, foster care adolescents who remained stable and those later disrupted did not differ on total psychiatric symptoms, cognitive ability, or percent time in institutional care.

“we compared these two groups at 54 months of age (prior to any disruptions) and found that there were no differences at that age between those who remained stable and those who subsequently disrupted on measures of total psychiatric symptoms (t[47]=1.95, p=.058, d=0.59), cognitive ability (t[47]=−0.82, p=.414, d=0.25), or percent time in institutional care through age 54 months (t[51]=−0.51, p=.61”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The study's definition of competent functioning was externally validated at age 12 but not at ages 8 or 16.

“Second, our definition of competent functioning was externally validated at 12 years (Humphreys et al., 2018), but not previously at 8 or 16 years.”

• cites Humphreys et al., 2018 sourceNot checked yet

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• AssumptionThe authors state this as an assumption: The definition of competent functioning used in this study is valid at ages 8 and 16 years.

The quote only partly states this claim.

Maintaining competence across middle childhood and adolescence may be uncommon.

“In conclusion, we find that institutional care is associated with reduced competence in middle childhood and adolescence and that maintaining competence across this period may be uncommon.”

May combine two claims.

The study replicates and extends previous work by showing that children who receive higher quality early caregiving and spend less time in institutions are more likely to achieve and maintain competent functioning.

“Our study replicates and extends previous work (Humphreys et al., 2018; Kreppner et al., 2007; Vorria et al., 2015) by demonstrating that children who receive higher quality caregiving early in life and spend less time being raised in institutions not only are more likely to achieve but also to maintain competent functioning.”

• cites Humphreys et al., 2018 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites Kreppner et al., 2007 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites Vorria et al., 2015 sourceNot checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Vorria and colleagues (2015) reported that sensitive and appropriate caregiving by institution staff was associated with more favorable outcomes at age 13.

“The link between sustained competence and early caregiving we found is similar to the report by Vorria and colleagues (2015) that quality interactions between children and institution staff that were characterized by appropriate and sensitive caregiving were associated with more favorable outcomes at age 13 years.”

• cites Vorria et al., 2015 sourceNot checked yet

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May combine two claims.

For children with a history of institutional care, time spent in institutional care and the care received from caregivers appear associated with greater resilience to early adversity.

“For children with a history of institutional care, time spent in institutional care as well as the care they receive when interacting with their caregivers appear to be associated with greater resilience to early adversity.”