Imagine you are a school psychologist at a public high school. Your school has just accepted three new transfer students: Vincent, who has been reared by his adoptive parents; Jayden, who lives with foster parents; and Takeru, who has been reared by lesbian parents. The principal has asked you whether any of these adolescents are at risk for behavioral problems or maladjustment. What would you tell him? Who is most at risk? Who is least at risk? Why might this be?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Jayden is most at risk of behavioral problems and maladjustment, while Takeru is least at risk. A sizable number of adolescents are reared by adoptive parents, lesbian and gay parents, and foster parents. Adolescents, like Vincent, who have been adopted represent a very diverse group, and it is hard to generalize about the impact of adoption on adolescent development. Though the effect is very small, on average, research has revealed that adopted adolescents may experience relatively higher rates of delinquency, substance use, psychological difficulties, and poorer school performance than other individuals. However, it is important to keep in mind that the magnitude of this difference is usually quite small when factors such as family resources and the adolescent's feelings about adoption are taken into account.

In contrast to the inconclusive findings with regard to adolescents who are adopted, research has been remarkably consistent for adolescents with gay or lesbian parents and adolescents in the foster care system. First, research has consistently indicated that adolescents who are reared by lesbian or gay parents, like Takeru, are not psychologically different than individuals reared by straight parents. Second, those who have spent time in foster care placement, like Jayden, tend to have more problems than other adolescents. Specifically, adolescents who have spent time in foster care are at an increased risk for emotional and behavioral problems, which could be due to the abuse or neglect that necessitated the foster placement, the foster care placement itself, or the fact that many adolescents in the foster care system are exposed to frequent disruptions in living arrangements.

Key Points:

a) Many adolescents spend time in foster, adoptive, or lesbian/gay parent households.

b) Findings regarding adopted adolescents are inconclusive.

c) No difference between adolescents who have been reared by gay/lesbian parents and adolescents who have been reared by straight parents has been found.

d) In general, adolescents in the foster care system have more problems (emotional and behavioral) than other adolescents.