Children adopted from the public care system are likely to experience a cluster of inter-related risk factors that may place them on a trajectory of mental health problems that persist across the life course. However, the specific effects of putative risk factors on children’s mental health post-placement are not well understood. We conducted a prospective, longitudinal study of children placed for adoption between 2014 and 2015 (N = 96). Adoptive parents completed questionnaires at approximately 5, 21, 36, and 48 months post-placement. We used time series analysis to examine the impact of pre-adoptive risk factors [adverse childhood experiences [ACEs], number of moves, days with birth parents and in care] on children’s internalizing and externalizing problems, and prosocial behavior over 4 years post-placement. Adoptees’ internalizing and externalizing problems remained consistently high over the 4-year study period, but more ACEs predicted increases in internalizing and externalizing problems. Contrary to expectations, more pre-placement moves and time in care predicted fewer problems over time, but exploratory analyses of interactive effects revealed this was only the case in rare circumstances. We identify pre- and post-removal factors that may incur benefits or have a deleterious impact on adoptees’ outcomes in post-adoptive family life. Our findings provide knowledge for front-line professionals in the support of adoptive families and underscore the vital need for effective early intervention.

从公共护理系统领养的儿童可能会遇到一系列相互关联的风险因素，这些因素可能使他们处于一生中持续存在的心理健康问题的轨迹。然而，人们对推定的危险因素对儿童心理健康的具体影响尚不十分了解。我们对2014年至2015年间被收养的儿童进行了前瞻性纵向研究（N = 96）。领养父母在安置后大约5、21、36和48个月完成了问卷调查。我们使用时间序列分析研究了收养前危险因素[不良的童年经历[ACE]，移动次数，与父母亲和照顾的天数]对儿童内在和外在问题的影响以及事后4年内的亲社会行为的影响。放置。在为期4年的研究期内，被收养者的内部化和外部化问题一直很高，但是更多的ACE预测内部化和外部化问题将会增加。与期望相反，更多的安置前移动和护理时间预示着随着时间的流逝更少的问题，但是对交互作用的探索性分析表明，只有在极少数情况下才是这种情况。我们确定搬迁前后的因素，这些因素可能会带来收益或对收养后家庭生活中被收养者的结局产生有害影响。我们的发现为一线专业人员提供有关领养家庭的知识，并强调了有效早期干预的迫切需要。