Abstract

This study investigated the social competence of 37 Russian adopted children aged between 9 and 12 years, paired with a control group of Italian non-adopted children. The evaluations were conducted by parents and by children themselves. Analyses concerning parents' reports showed that adopted children have more social difficulties and differ in frequency of implementation of maladaptive behaviors. No relationships were found between social competence and age of adoption, length of institutionalization or time passed in the adoptive family. Finally evaluations of parents and children concerning aggressive behaviors are discrepant.