RESILIENCE IN ADOLESCENTS ADOPTED FROM ROMANIAN ORPHANAGES: A MULTIPLE CASE STUDY ANALYSIS by Karen Patricia Kurytnik M.A., Simon Fraser University, 2003 THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in the Faculty ofEducation © Karen Patricia Kurytnik 2008 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Fall 2008 All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy orother means, without permission ofthe author. APPROVAL Name: Karen Patricia Kurytnik Degree: Doctor of Philosophy Title ofThesis: Resilience in Adolescents Adopted from Romanian Orphanages: A Multiple Case Study Analysis Examining Committee: Chair: Dr. Margaret MacDonald Dr. Lucy LeMare, Associate Professor Senior Supervisor Dr. Paul Neufeld, Associate Professor Committee Member Dr. Roger Frie, Associate Professor Internal/External Examiner Dr. Catherine Ann Cameron, Psychology, USC External Examiner Date Defended/Approved: ii SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Declaration of Partial Copyright Licence The author, whose copyright is declared on the title page ofthis work, has granted to Simon Fraser University the right to lend this thesis, project or extended essay to users of the Simon Fraser University Library, and to make partial or single copies only for such users or in response to a request from the library ofany other university, orothereducational institution, on its own behalfor for one ofits users. The author has further granted permission to Simon Fraser University to keep or make a digital copy for use in its circulating collection (currently available to the public at the "Institutional Repository" link of the SFU Library website <www.lib.sfu.ca> at: <http://ir.lib.sfu.ca/handle/1892/112>) and, without changing the content, to translate the thesis/project or extended essays, if technically possible, to any medium or format for the purpose of preservation of the digital work. The author has further agreed that permission for multiple copying ofthis work for scholarly purposes may be granted by either the author or the Dean of Graduate Studies. It is understood that copying or publication ofthis work for financial gain shall not be allowed without the author'swritten permission. Permission for public performance, or limited permission for private scholarly use, of any multimedia materials forming part ofthis work, may have been granted by the author. This information may be found on the separately catalogued multimedia material and in the signed Partial Copyright Licence. While licensing SFU to permit the above uses, the author retains copyright in the thesis, project or extended essays, including the right to change the work for subsequent purposes, including editing and publishing the work in whole or in part, and licensing otherparties, as the author may desire. The original Partial Copyright Licence attesting to these terms, and signed by this author, may be found in the original bound copy of this work, retained in the Simon Fraser UniversityArchive. Simon Fraser University Library Burnaby, BC, Canada Lastrevision:Fall2007.28-Aug·08 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY THINKING OF THE WORLD STATEMENT OF ETHICS APPROVAL The author, whose name appears on the title page of this work, has obtained, forthe research described in thiswork, either: (a)Human research ethics approval from the Simon Fraser University Office of Research Ethics, or (b) Advance approval of the animal care protocol from the University Animal CareCommitteeofSimon FraserUniversity; orhasconducted theresearch (c) asaco-investigator, in aresearch projectapproved in advance, or (d) as a member of a course approved in advance for minimal risk human research, bytheOfficeof Research Ethics. A copy of the approval letter has been filed at the Theses Office of the UniversityLibraryatthetime ofsubmissionofthisthesisorproject. The original application for approval and letter of approval are filed with the relevantoffices. Inquiriesmaybedirectedtothose authorities. BennettLibrary Simon FraserUniversity Burnaby, BC,Canada LastreVISIOn:Summer2007 iii ABSTRACT This study describes resilience (and non-resilience) processes in nine adolescents adopted between 9.5 and 24 months ofage from Romanian orphanages between 1990 and 1991. The study was carried out using aqualitative case study methodology incorporating data from assessments at four time periods-at 11 months post-adoption, age 4.5, age 10.5, and age 16.5. The data were analyzed using a code and sort procedure similarto the one described by Bogdan and Biklen (I992). Case studies regarding the participants' pathways to resilience (ornon-resilience) were categorized according to the ecological framework (Ungar, Lee, Callaghan, & Boothroyd, 2005; Ungar& the International Resilience Project Team, 2006) that guides this study. This framework includes: Individual factors, Relationships factors, Community contexts, Cultural factors, and Physical ecology factors. Findings indicate that participants' pathways to resilience were influenced by: (1) Individual factors, including pro-social charactertraits (e.g., being caring, thoughtful, and sensitive to others' feelings), positive self-esteem, and a sense of 'well-roundedness' thatmanifested itselfin avariety ofinterests including academic, athletic, musical, and social pursuits; (2) Relationship factors, including early positive attachments with adoptive parents, consistentcaregiving by stay-at-home parents in the early childhoodyears, family structure whereby participants received a lot ofindividual attention, low levels ofparenting stress, and positive peerrelationships; (3) Community factors, including services that met the families' needs, part-time employment opportunities that fostered a sense ofresponsibility and confidence in one's abilities, and positive school environments whereby individual needs were met; and (4) Cultural factors, including a sense of'ease' with adoption history, and religious affiliation. Relationship factors seemed to be the most important influence in the participants' pathways to resilience; and physical ecology factors the least important. Individual variation was considered throughout the analyses in orderto not lose sight ofthe complexity ofresilience processes. This dissertation is dedicated to the children, parents, and teachers who kindly agreed to participate in the Romanian Adoption project and contribute to our understandin sofchild developmentand resilience processes. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am very grateful to Dr. Lucy Le Mare, my senior supervisor, for her wonderful guidance and mentorship throughout my years ofgraduate studies. Without her inspiration, encouragement, wealth ofknowledge, and academic integrity, this thesis would not be possible. In addition, Iappreciate the many opportunities she provided for collaboration in various projects, conference presentations, and publications. I would also like to extend my thanks to Dr. Paul Neufeld for his excellent suggestions and time spent on draft reviews. It has truly been apleasure to work with Dr. Karyn Audet, my colleague and friend, on Phases 3 and 4 ofthe Romanian Adoption Project. Together we found enjoyment amidst the countless hours ofwork involved in the research process. I also want to thank the many other graduate students and volunteers who have dedicated their time to make this study possible. I owe my deepest gratitude to my husband Ryan, and my wonderful family and friends for their amazing encouragement and support. Ispecifically want to thank Samuel's Nana and Grandma who provided me the luxury ofcontinuous days ofwriting time and kept my little boy entertained. Baby Joshua, aspecial thank you for giving me 'kicks' ofmotivation throughout the final months ofthe writing process, and for timing your arrival perfectly©. Finally, I would like to thank all ofthe families who have participated in this research and shared their invaluable stories and experiences. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Approval ii Abstract iii Dedication iv Acknowledgements v Table ofContents vi List ofTables x Introduction 1 History ofResilience 2 Defining Resilience 3 An Ecological Model ofResilience 5 Individual Resilience Factors 6 Relationships Resilience Factors 6 Community Resilience Factors 6 Cultural Resilience Factors 7 Physical Ecology Resilience Factors 7 Research onResilience l0 A Case ofSevere Adversity 19 The Present Study 25 Case Study Method for Studying Resilience: Defining Research Topics Broadly .26 Case Study Method for Studying Resilience: Covering Contextual or Complex Multivariate Conditions .26 Case Study Method for Studying Resilience: Relying on Multiple Sources ofEvidence 27 Method 29 Participants 29 Resilient Participants at Age 16.5 32 Liam 32 Cole 32 Heather (Twin ofCole) 33 Mitch 34 Lauren 34 vii Non-resilient Participants at Age 16.5 35 Alison 35 Jenna 36 Cory 36 Micah 37 Data Sources 37 Time I 40 Demographic Information .40 Parent Interview 40 Revised Denver Prescreening Developmental Questionnaire (R-DPDQ; Frankenburg, 1986) .41 Gesell Developmental Observation .41 Researcher Observations .42 Time 2 42 Parent Interview 42 The Home Observation for Measurement ofthe Environment Inventory (HOME; Caldwell & Bradley, 1984) .42 Child Behavior Checklist/4-18 (CBCL; Achenbach, 1991) .43 Parenting Stress Index (PSI; Abidin, 1990) .44 Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, 4th Edition (SB4; Thorndike, Hagen, & Sattler, 1986) .45 Time 3 45 Parent Interview 45 Canada Quick Individual Educational Test (Canada QUIET; Wormeli & Carter, 1990) .46 School Questionnaire (NLSCY; Statistics Canada-HRDC, 1997) .46 Child's Education (NLSYC; Statistics Canada-HRDC, 1997) .46 Student's Education (NLSYC; Statistics Canada-HRDC, 1997) .47 The Self-Description Questionnaire (SDQ-I; Marsh, Smith, & Barnes, 1983; Marsh, 1988) .47 The Children's BehaviourQuestionnaire .48 Relational Provisions and Loneliness Questionnaire .49 Parent Report ofPeerActivities .49 Parenting Practices 49 Time 4 50 Strengths and Challenges 50 Adoption Questionnaire 50 Inventory ofParent and PeerAttachment 50 Romantic Relationships 51 Health Questionnaire 51 Sex-role Orientation 52 Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM; Ungar, 2003) 52 Phone ConversationNotes with Parents 52 Analytic Strategy 53 viii Results and Discussion 56 Characterization at Time 1 56 Time in Institution 57 Developmental Delays at Adoption 57 Intelligence 58 Family Demographic Factors 59 Reason for Adoption 59 Themes from the Case-StudyAnalyses 60 Individual Factors 60 Temperament 60 Descriptive Adjectives 61 Interests 62 Self-esteem 63 Strengths 64 Challenges 65 Behaviour Problems 67 Academic Performance 68 Diagnoses 68 Relationship Factors 68 Attachment 68 PrimaryCaregiver 70 Family Structure 70 Marriage Status 71 Peerrelationships 73 Romantic Relationships 74 Parenting Stress 74 Parenting Practices 75 Parental 'Outlook' 77 Community Contexts 78 Service Needs 78 Employment 79 School Environment. 80 Cultural Factors 80 Adoption 80 Religion/Spirituality 81 Physical Ecology Factors 82 Orphanage Conditions 82 Adoptive Family Living Environment.. 82 Resilience Scores 83 DiscussionofGeneral Findings and Overarching Themes 84 Interactions Among Resilience Factors 88 The Importance ofRelationships 89 The Case ofLauren 91 The Case ofCory 93 Conceptual Implications 95 Conclusions 98