Comparative Analysis of Post-orphanage Adaptation of Orphaned Children Deprived of Parental Care: 20 Years Later

412

Abstract

The article looks into the results of the comparative analysis of post-orphanage adaptation among the orphanages graduates of years 2001 (N=968) and 2021 (N=1792). Due to the active development of family-oriented forms of adoption of orphaned children, the year 2021 sample also included children graduates from foster families (N=1413). The study was conducted using the questionnaire from 2001 containing questions about major aspects of graduates' lives: life values and plans for the future, education, employment, family life, recreational activities, asocial behavior (with adjustments for the realities of today's legal system). Changes have been shown that occurred over 20 years in governmental policies toward orphan children and orphan graduates. Significant changes are observed in the graduates' subjective assessments of their own preparedness for independent living and of their psychological well-being. The comparative analysis revealed that only quantitative changes occurred in different aspects of their lives, while the list of the graduates' problems remained the same. Quite unexpectedly, it turned out that there are no significant differences for a number of adaptation parameters between graduates of organizations for orphaned children and those from substitute families of 2021. This can be explained by the fact that foster parents generally don't prepare their fostered children for independent living, whereas professionals of orphanage institutions support their ex-wards children until the latter turn 23.

General Information

Keywords: graduate, organization for orphans and children left without parental care, substitute family, orphanage, adaptation, independent life

Journal rubric: Legal Psychology of Childhood

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/psylaw.2021110403

Funding. The study was carried out within the framework of the State assignment of the Ministry of Education of Russia No. 073-00041-21-03 dated 11.06.2021 ‘Scientific and methodological development of a system for assessing the readiness of graduates of organizations for orphans and children left without parental care, graduates of substitute families to live independently and the success of social adaptation after graduation from organizations and completion of stay in substitute families’.

Acknowledgements. The author is grateful to G.O. Zaitsev. PhD in Physics and Maths, for his help in processing statistical data, readiness for discussion and analysis.

Received: 31.10.2021

Accepted:

For citation: Semya G.V. Comparative Analysis of Post-orphanage Adaptation of Orphaned Children Deprived of Parental Care: 20 Years Later [Elektronnyi resurs]. Psikhologiya i pravo = Psychology and Law, 2021. Vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 25–41. DOI: 10.17759/psylaw.2021110403. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

References

  1. Bobyleva I.A., Zavodilkina O.V. Podgotovka vospitannikov internatnykh uchrezhdenii k samostoyatel'noi zhizni [Preparation of boarding school students for independent life]. Vestnik Moskovskogo gosudarstvennogo oblastnogo universiteta. Seriya: Psikhologicheskie nauki [Bulletin of the Moscow State Regional University. Series: Psychological Sciences], 2015, no. 1, pp. 6—15. (In Russ.).
  2. Bobyleva I.A., Zavodilkina O.V. Proyavleniya samostoyatel'nosti u vypusknika detskogo doma: vzglyad spetsialista [Manifestations of independence in a graduate of an orphanage: a specialist's view]. Vestnik Moskovskogo gosudarstvennogo oblastnogo universiteta. Seriya: Psikhologicheskie nauki [Bulletin of the Moscow State Regional University. Series: Psychological Sciences], 2016, no.4, pp. 123—137. doi:10.18384/2310-7235-2016-4-123-137 (In Russ.).
  3. Bobyleva I.A., Zavodilkina O.V., Rusakovskaya O.A. Trenirovochnaya kvartira kak formiruyushchaya sreda dlya detei-sirot s OVZ [Training apartment as a formative environment for orphans with disabilities]. Vestnik Moskovskogo gosudarstvennogo oblastnogo universiteta. Seriya: Psikhologicheskie nauki [Bulletin of the Moscow State Regional University. Series: Psychological Sciences], 2018, no. 3, pp. 60—74. doi:10.18384/2310-7235-2018-3-60-74 (In Russ.).
  4. Doklad po itogam monitoringa effektivnosti realizatsii Natsional'noi strategii deistvii v interesakh detei na 2012-2017 [Report on the results of monitoring the effectiveness of the implementation of the National Strategy of Actions in the Interests of Children for 2012-2017]. In G.V. Semya, I.E. Kalabikhina, A.M. Spivak, E.I. Tsymbal, A.V. Kuchmaeva, N.G. Zaitseva, A.A. Shvedovskaya (eds.) by V.V. Rubtsova, G.V. Semya. Moscow: Edition of the Federation Council Publ., 2018, Vol. 1. 272 p.
  5. Zaitseva N.G., Sem'ya G.V. Sistema podderzhki vypusknikov, vykhodyashchikh iz-pod gosudarstvennoi opeki: zarubezhnyi opyt [The system of support for graduates leaving state guardianship: foreign experience]. ‘Vestnik MGADA’ [‘Bulletin of MGADA’], 2012, no. 1 (13), pp. 24—42. (In Russ.).
  6. Levin S.A., Panov A.I., Yuditseva N.N., Sem'ya G.V. Sotsial'no-psikhologicheskie tekhnologii postinternatnoi adaptatsii vypusknikov obrazovatel'nykh uchrezhdenii dlya detei-sirot i detei, ostavshikhsya bez popecheniya roditelei [Socio-psychological technologies of post-international adaptation of graduates of educational institutions for orphans and children left without parental care]. Moscow, BF ‘Slovo’ Publ., 1999. 144 p.
  7. Maiorov N.A., Chepurnykh E.E., Lebedev O.E., Sem'ya G.V. Sotsializatsiya i obrazovanie sotsial'nykh sirot. Sotsial'naya adaptatsiya vypusknikov internatnykh uchrezhdenii dlya detei, ostavshikhsya bez popecheniya roditelei: Doklad [Socialization and education of social orphans. Social adaptation of graduates of boarding schools for children left without parental care: Report] comp. In O.E. Lebedev, A.N. Maiorov, E.E. Chepurnykh, V.I. Zolotukhina, G.V. Sem'ya (eds.) by A.N. Maiorova. Moscow: ‘Intellekt-tsentr’, 2010. 208 p.
  8. Markelov K.A. Rol' detskikh domov v uspeshnoi sotsializatsii detei-sirot [The role of orphanages in the successful socialization of orphans] (eds) K.A. Markelov. Vestnik Tyvinskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta [Bulletin of Tyva State University], 2016, no. 8, pp. 89—96. (In Russ.).
  9. Postanovlenie Pravitel'stva Rossiiskoi Federatsii ot 24 maya 2014 g. № 481 ‘O deyatel'nosti organizatsii dlya detei-sirot i detei, ostavshikhsya bez popecheniya roditelei, i ob ustroistve v nikh detei, ostavshikhsya bez popecheniya roditelei’ [Elektronnyi resurs] [Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of 24 May  2014 № 481 ‘On the activities of organizations for orphans and children left without parental care, and on the placement of children left without parental care in them’. Available at: https://base.garant.ru/70661542/ (Accessed 02.11.2021).
  10. Sem'ya G.V. Osnovy psikhologicheskoi zashchishchennosti detei-sirot i detei, ostavshikhsya bez popecheniya roditelei [Fundamentals of psychological protection of orphans and children left without parental care]. Razvitie lichnosti [Personality development], 2004, no. 1, pp. 28—46. (In Russ.).
  11. Sem'ya G.V. Psikhologicheskaya zashchishchennost' detei, ostavshikhsya bez popecheniya roditelei, v usloviyakh institutsionalizatsii i zameshchayushchei sem'i [Psychological Safety of Children Left without Parental Care under the Conditions of Institutionalization or a Substitute Family]. Psikhologicheskaya nauka i obrazovanie [Psychological Science and Education], 2009, Vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 24—32. (In Russ., Abstr. in Engl.).
  12. Sem'ya G.V. Usloviya psikhologicheskoi i sotsial'noi zashchishchennosti vypusknikov obrazovatel'nykh uchrezhdenii dlya detei-sirot i detei, ostavshikhsya bez popecheniya roditelei [Conditions of psychological and social protection of graduates of educational institutions for orphans and children left without parental care]. Moscow, 2011. 136 p.
  13. Sem'ya G.V., A.I. Golovan', G.O. Zaitsev, N.G. Zaitseva. Rezul'taty provedeniya statisticheskogo i psikhologicheskogo issledovaniya polozheniya vypusknikov organizatsii dlya detei-sirot i detei, ostavshikhsya bez popecheniya roditelei, v gorode Moskve [The results of a statistical and psychological study of the situation of graduates of organizations for orphans and children left without parental care in the city of Moscow] G.V. Sem'ya (ed.). Moscow, 2014. 140 p.
  14. Sem'ya G.V., Telitsina A.Yu. Rol' nekommercheskikh organizatsii i instituta dobrovol'chestva v realizatsii Natsional'noi strategii deistvii v interesakh detei na 2012–2017 gody [The Role of Nonprofit Organizations and Volunteer Services in the Implementation of the National Strategy on Action for Children 2012–2017]. Psikhologicheskaya nauka i obrazovanie [Psychological Science and Education], 2016, Vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 168—183. doi:10.17759/pse.2016210115. (In Russ., Abstr. in Engl.).
  15. Sem'ya G.V. Zhizneustroistvo i soprovozhdenie v postinternate lits iz chisla detei-sirot i detei, ostavshikhsya bez popecheniya roditelei [Life arrangement and support in post-boarding of persons from among orphans and children left without parental care]. Moscow, 2012. 128 p.
  16. Ukaz Prezidenta RF ot 29 maya 2017 g. № 240 ‘Ob ob"yavlenii v Rossiiskoi Federatsii Desyatiletiya detstva’ [Elektronnyi resurs] [Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 240 dated May 29, 2017 ‘On the declaration of the Decade of Childhood in the Russian Federation’. Available at: https://base.garant.ru/71684480/#friends (Accessed 02.05.2021).
  17. Federal'nyi zakon ot 21 dekabrya 1996 g. № 159-FZ ‘O dopolnitel'nykh garantiyakh po sotsial'noi podderzhke detei-sirot i detei, ostavshikhsya bez popecheniya roditelei’ (s popravkami ot 17 fevralya 2021 g.) [Federal Law No. 159-FZ of December 21, 1996 (as amended on 01.05.2017) ‘On additional guarantees for the social support of orphans and children left without parental care’ (as amended on February 17, 2021)] [Elektronnyi resurs]. Available at: https://base.garant.ru/10135206/ (Accessed 02.11.2021).
  18. Tsvetkova I.A. Osobennosti resotsializatsii vypusknikov sirotskikh uchrezhdenii. Diss. kand. sots. nauk. [Features of the re-socialization of graduates of orphanages. Ph. D. (Psychology) Thesis]. Kazan, 2016.
  19. Shul'ga T.I. Smyslozhiznennye orientatsii vypusknikov internatnykh uchrezhdenii [Meaningful life orientations of graduates of boarding schools]. Vestnik Moskovskogo gosudarstvennogo oblastnogo universiteta. Seriya: Psikhologicheskie nauki [Bulletin of the Moscow State Regional University. Series: Psychological Sciences], 2010, no. 1, pp. 5—11. (In Russ.).
  20. Shul'ga T.I. Sotsial'no-psikhologicheskie problemy vypusknikov uchrezhdenii dlya detei-sirot i detei, ostavshikhsya bez popecheniya roditelei [Socio-psychological problems of graduates of institutions for orphans and children left without parental care]. Vestnik Moskovskogo gosudarstvennogo oblastnogo universiteta. Seriya: Psikhologicheskie nauki [Bulletin of the Moscow State Regional University. Series: Psychological Sciences], 2013, no. 3, pp. 68—75. (In Russ.).
  21. Gabriel T., Keller S., Bombach C. Vulnerability and Well-Being Decades after Leaving Care. Frontiers in Psychology, 2012, Vol. 12, pp. 1—11. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.577450
  22. Gates L.B., Pearlmutter S., Keenan K., Divver C., Gorroochurn P. Career readiness programming for youth in foster care. Children and Youth Services Review, 2018, Vol. 89, pp.152—164. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.04.003
  23. Häggman-Laitila А., Salokekkilä P., Karki S. Transition to adult life of young people leaving foster care: A qualitative systematic review [Electronic resource]. Children and Youth Services Review, 2018б Vol. 95, pp. 134—143. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.08.017
  24. McGuire A., Jackson Y. Dimensions of maltreatment and academic outcomes for youth in foster care [Electronic resource]. Child Abuse & Neglect, 2018, Vol. 84, pp. 82—94. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.07.029.

Information About the Authors

Galina V. Semya, Doctor of Psychology, Professor, Professor of the Department of Developmental Psychology named after Professor L.F. Obukhova" Faculty of Educational Psychology, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Professor of the Department of Psychological Anthropology of the Institute of Childhood of the Moscow Pedagogical State University., Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9583-8698, e-mail: gvsemia@yandex.ru

Metrics

Views

Total: 1767
Previous month: 53
Current month: 64

Downloads

Total: 412
Previous month: 13
Current month: 10