This study examined the trajectory of problem behaviours in domestically adopted children in South Korea as they aged. This study used the Panel Study on Korean Adopted Children's longitudinal, threewave data (2006, 2008 and 2010). Although data were collected at three time points, our data consisted of six time points, which covered the 5-10 years age range of the adopted children at the time of survey. One hundred sixty-four children were included in the analysis, 75 of whom contributed to one time point, 74 to two time points and 15 to three time points. The trajectory of the problem behaviours of adopted children was examined using a piecewise hierarchical linear growth model. Because the initial exploration of the data suggested non-linear changes in behaviour problems over time, we split the growth trajectory into two time periods: Time 1 (5-7 years) and Time 2 (7-10 years). A two-rate model was used to estimate separate slopes for the two time periods. Results showed that the externalizing and internalizing problems of adopted children have different trajectories. Internalizing problems did not show significant changes after 5 years of age, while externalizing problems increased until 7 years of age and decreased significantly thereafter.

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The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of marital satisfaction and depression of adoptive mother on the problem behaviors of adopted children and the mediating effects of parenting competency between them. Contextual variables such as family background and adoption-related characteristics were also included as control variables. The results of multiple regression analysis showed marital satisfaction had significant influence on the problem behavior of adopted child through flexibility of parenting competency, while depression was not significantly related to parenting competency of adoptive mother. Yet, maternal depression had direct influence on the problem behavior of adopted child. Based on the limitations of the study, suggestions for further study were made.