T his study is based on a statewide longitudinal sample of adopted foster youth and explores the relationship between early pre-adoption risk factors and subsequent elevated levels of psychopathology symptomatology. One central goal of the study was to evaluate the impact of preadoption stressors (prenatal drug/nicotine exposure, early maltreatment, chaotic foster care history) on the 293 adopted foster children's short-and long-term psychosocial functioning at ages 2, 4, and 8 years post-adoption.An additional objective pertained to measuring how post-adoption attributes (adoptive parents' appraisals of their readiness for this type of adoptive placement and of their parenting style using the HOME scale) contributed a partial mediating influence to the children's functioning. The effects of risk and protective factors were examined through linear regression analyses.The strongest risk factors for the display of behavior problems were sexual abuse, neglect, and having been placed in multiple foster homes. Crucially, lack of parental readiness contributed a substantial increment to the overall models. In addition, longitudinally, the behavior problems remained stable across time.The implications of these findings for the development of services and interventions targeted for adoptive families are discussed.The number of children adopted from the child welfare system (public adoptions) has increased in recent years, attributable in large part to the passage of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (ASFA). Of the various adoption types in the United States today, children of public adoptions are one of the most vulnerable population groups. Inherent to this population is a set of risk factors-severe child maltreatment and abandonment, prenatal substance exposure, multiple transitions from home to home, late age at adoption-that can negatively affect adoptive placements unless families are aware of and adequately prepared for the potential challenges that may unfold. Presently, research is lacking about the chronic influence of these preadoption risk factors on adopted foster children's long-term development, which, in turn, can hinder the creation of effective sustained intervention techniques. This present study, involving the California Long-Range Adoption Study (CLAS), aimed to fill these gaps. By evaluating the comparative influence of distinct clusters of pre-adoptive hazards on the adopted foster youths' psychosocial adjustment, this study was able to examine the short-and long-term effects that these risk factors have on adopted foster children.This is a companion study to a parallel project involving the CLAS data that looked longitudinally at the prevalence of internalizing and externalizing symptomatology in adopted foster youth. In that study, it was found that adopted foster youth exhibited elevated rates of symptomatology, across three different time points (2, 4, and 8 years post-adoption), that far exceed what is expected of age-similar youth in the general population (Simmel, Barth, & Brooks, 20...

Because of the centrality of peer relationship difficulties for children with attentiondeficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), we investigated behavioral (overt and covert antisocial activity), internalizing (self-reports and observed social isolation), and familial (authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive parenting beliefs) predictors of peer sociometric nominations among previously unfamiliar, ethnically diverse ADHD (N=73) and comparison (N=60) boys, aged 6-12 years. Authoritative maternal parenting beliefs and negatively weighted social isolation explained significant variance in positive peer regard; aggression, covert behavior, and authoritative parenting beliefs were the independent predictors of both negative peer status and peer social preference. We extended such predictions with statistical control of (1) child cognitive variables, (2) maternal psychopathology, and (3) ADHD boys, but authoritative parenting beliefs were stronger predictors in ADHD than in comparison youth. We discuss family-peer linkages regarding peer competence.

Reciprocal relationships between child characteristics and such familial factors as parental psychopathology and interaction style with the child characterize the development and maintenance of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as its comorbidity with antisocial behavior. Our goal was to ascertain the ability of negative maternal behavior exhibited during mother-son interactions to predict independently observed overt and covert externalizing behavior in the child, controlling for current maternal symptomatology and the boy's acting out behavior during the interaction. Participants were 49 boys with ADHD and 37 comparison boys, aged 6 to 12 years. Hierarchical multiple-regression analyses revealed that, even with maternal psychopathology and child negativity with the mother partialed, maternal negative behaviors predicted both observed noncompliance exhibited in class and play settings and laboratory stealing. Stealing was predicted from maternal negativity even with child interactional compliance controlled. Differential predictions of noncompliance were revealed in ADHD versus comparison families, yet similar patterns emerged for stealing within each group. Results are discussed in light of the high risk for antisocial behavior in ADHD children.

Because of the centrality of peer relationship difficulties for children with attentiondeficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), we investigated behavioral (overt and covert antisocial activity), internalizing (self-reports and observed social isolation), and familial (authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive parenting beliefs) predictors of peer sociometric nominations among previously unfamiliar, ethnically diverse ADHD (N=73) and comparison (N=60) boys, aged 6-12 years. Authoritative maternal parenting beliefs and negatively weighted social isolation explained significant variance in positive peer regard; aggression, covert behavior, and authoritative parenting beliefs were the independent predictors of both negative peer status and peer social preference. We extended such predictions with statistical control of (1) child cognitive variables, (2) maternal psychopathology, and (3) ADHD boys, but authoritative parenting beliefs were stronger predictors in ADHD than in comparison youth. We discuss family-peer linkages regarding peer competence.

Given the high risk for delinquency of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), their display of covert or clandestine antisocial behavior is important developmentally and theoretically. In a laboratory probe of the temptation to (a) steal small amounts of money and desired objects, (b) destroy property, and (c) use an answer key to cheat on a worksheet, counts of these covert behaviors were reliably made. Laboratory property destruction was highly correlated with parallel naturalistic behaviors. Stealing and property destruction (but not cheating) formed a factor that was distinct from overt physical and verbal aggression. These covert indexes clearly distinguished ADHD from comparison samples as well as high-from low-aggressive ADHD subgroups; they showed external validity with maternal reports, global staff ratings, and child self-reports of similar constructs. The authors discuss psychometric and ethical issues in the assessment of covert antisocial behavior.