A recent study has revealed that internationally adopted students in Norway face significantly higher levels of mental health challenges compared to their non-adopted peers. The research, conducted as part of the Students’ Health and Wellbeing Study (SHoT), underscores the impact of perceived discrimination and pre-adoption risk factors on mental health outcomes among young adult adoptees. The findings were published in the journal Adoption Quarterly.
The study examined data from 409 internationally adopted students, representing 0.8% of the total student sample. The findings indicate that these students report higher levels of psychological distress, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts compared to their non-adopted counterparts . Specifically, 26% of internationally adopted students reported engaging in non-suicidal self-harm (NSSH), compared to 20% of non-adopted students. The occurrence of suicide attempts among adoptees was double that of their peers, with 8% of adoptees and 4% of non-adoptees reporting such attempts .
Perceived discrimination emerged as a significant factor contributing to mental health issues among the internationally adopted students. The study found that perceived discrimination accounted for 16% of the variance in psychological distress among these students. Statements indicating culturally based victimisation, such as being teased or insulted due to their ethnic background, were endorsed by a considerable portion of the adoptees. For example, 42.6% reported being teased and insulted because of their cultural background.
Perceived discrimination was also linked to increased odds of self-harm thoughts and suicidal ideation. The odds of having self-harm thoughts were 49% higher among those who experienced discrimination, while the odds of suicidal ideation were 60% higher . However, discrimination was not significantly associated with NSSH or suicide attempts, suggesting that other risk factors might be more salient for these more severe outcomes .
The study explored the influence of pre- and post-adoption risk factors on mental health outcomes. One notable finding was that age at adoption was not significantly associated with any mental health outcomes. But the continent of origin did play a role. Being adopted from Asia was associated with lower odds of NSSH and suicide attempts compared to adoptees from other regions.
The researchers posited that these differences might be linked to the varying conditions in the countries of origin prior to adoption. For instance, children adopted from countries with relatively favourable institutional conditions, such as China and South Korea, might have had better initial health and development, potentially mitigating some of the adverse effects associated with international adoption.
The study’s findings highlight the need for targeted mental health support and interventions for internationally adopted students. Given the elevated risks of psychological distress and self-harm, it is crucial for educational institutions and health services to address these issues proactively. This includes providing more extensive adoption-related services beyond the immediate post-adoption period and into adolescence and young adulthood.
Increasing awareness and addressing discrimination within the university and college environment are also vital. By fostering a more inclusive and supportive atmosphere, institutions can help mitigate the negative impact of discrimination on the mental health of international adoptees.
