Editing Adoption (section)

=== Mental health ===
Adopted children are more likely to experience psychological and behavioral problems than non-adopted peers.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Duncan |first1=Morvwen |last2=Woolgar |first2=Matt |last3=Ransley |first3=Rachel |last4=Fearon |first4=Pasco |date=2021-12-01 |title=Mental health and behavioural difficulties in adopted children: A systematic review of post-adoption risk and protective factors |url=https://doi.org/10.1177/03085759211058358 |journal=Adoption & Fostering |volume=45 |issue=4 |pages=414–429 |doi=10.1177/03085759211058358|s2cid=245473080 }}</ref> Children who were older than four at the time of their adoption experience more psychological problems than those who were younger.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |date=2020-08-28 |title=Adopted children can experience lasting mental health problems |url=https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/alert/adopted-children-can-experience-lasting-mental-health-problems/ |journal=NIHR Evidence |type=Plain English summary |language=en |doi=10.3310/alert_40787|s2cid=241503976 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Nadeem |first1=Erum |last2=Waterman |first2=Jill |last3=Foster |first3=Jared |last4=Paczkowski |first4=Emilie |last5=Belin |first5=Thomas R. |last6=Miranda |first6=Jeanne |date=2016-01-28 |title=Long-Term Effects of Pre-Placement Risk Factors on Children's Psychological Symptoms and Parenting Stress Among Families Adopting Children From Foster Care |journal=Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders |language=en |volume=25 |issue=2 |pages=67–81 |doi=10.1177/1063426615621050 |issn=1063-4266 |pmc=5734114 |pmid=29263641}}</ref>

According to study in the UK, adopted children can have mental health problems that do not improve even four years after their adoption. Children with multiple [[adverse childhood experiences]] are more likely to have mental health problems. The study suggests that to identify and treat mental health problems early, care professionals and the adopting parents need detailed biographical information about the child's life.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Paine |first1=Amy L. |last2=Fahey |first2=Kevin |last3=Anthony |first3=Rebecca E. |last4=Shelton |first4=Katherine H. |date=2021-05-01 |title=Early adversity predicts adoptees' enduring emotional and behavioral problems in childhood |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-020-01553-0 |journal=European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry |language=en |volume=30 |issue=5 |pages=721–732 |doi=10.1007/s00787-020-01553-0 |issn=1435-165X |pmc=8060221 |pmid=32468437}}</ref> Another study in the UK suggests that adopted children are more likely to suffer from [[Post-traumatic stress disorder|post-traumatic stress]] (PTS) than the general population. Their PTS symptoms depend on the type of adverse experiences they went through and knowledge of their history offers an option for tailored support.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2021-08-03 |title=Adopted children may develop specific types of post-traumatic stress |url=https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/alert/adopted-children-may-develop-specific-types-of-post-traumatic-stress/ |journal=NIHR Evidence |type=Plain English summary |language=en |doi=10.3310/alert_47378|s2cid=242996830 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Anthony |first1=R. |last2=Paine |first2=A.L. |last3=Westlake |first3=M. |last4=Lowthian |first4=E. |last5=Shelton |first5=K.H. |date=7 November 2020 |title=Patterns of adversity and post-traumatic stress among children adopted from care |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0145213420304506 |journal=Child Abuse & Neglect |language=en |volume=130 |issue=Pt 2 |pages=104795 |doi=10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104795|pmid=33172646 |s2cid=226304165 }}</ref>