1. Objectifs

Intentions :
« In a companion article, we retrospectively examined the childhood strengths and adverse experiences of a group of orphans given up at or near birth and raised in Quebec institutions. This article examines the relationship of their early experiences to functioning and symptoms in later adulthood. » (tiré de l’article, numéro de page non disponible)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
- « 81 French-speaking adults (41 women, 40 men) who were placed in orphanages before the age of 4 years [...];
- Structured and semistructured interviews. » (tiré de l’article, numéro de page non disponible)

Instruments :
- The Traumatic and Protective Antecedents Interview (TPAI);
- The Social and Occupational Functioning Scale (SOFAS);
- This self-report measure
- Defense Mechanism Rating Scales (DMRS)
- Overall Defensive Functioning (ODF)

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

« A high prevalence of childhood trauma and adverse experiences in these institutions was reported retrospectively by this group of orphans. Overall, the group had moderate impairment in social and occupational functioning assessed in mid to late adulthood. The subsequent associations between these early experiences and adult social and occupational functioning, defensive functioning, and symptoms of distress were moderated by childhood strengths. In the presence of few childhood strengths, trauma appeared to have had a major negative impact on subsequent mid to late adult outcome. This negative impact was mitigated to some extent in the presence of higher childhood strengths. Institutionalization of children - if unavoidable - should foster children’s strengths and build in effective safeguards against traumatic experiences, especially among those with few personal strengths. » (tiré de l’article, numéro de page non disponible)