As international adoption peaked at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, research on its outcomes has paralleled that peak in scope and depth. This book provides a comprehensive, integrative analysis of international adoption within its historical, political, and legal frameworks, situating the practice in the context of global child welfare and the search for permanent families. By synthesizing decades of multidisciplinary research, the chapters examine developmental trajectories of internationally adopted individuals from childhood through to adulthood, taking into account physical health, attachment, language, cognition, academic achievement, identity, and mental health. Drawing on diverse methodologies and international samples, the text advances our understanding of resilience, adaptation, and identity in cross-cultural contexts. It also identifies critical gaps and articulates directions for future inquiry, refining developmental theory and informing policy and practice. This essential resource supports researchers, professionals, and graduate students engaged in adoption, child development, and social care.

‘In this must-read, exceptionally well researched book, Grigorenko provides an expansive overview of what is known about the development of internationally adopted children. This should be required reading for any professional who works in the field of adoption or parents who have adopted a child born outside of their adopted country.’

Charles A. Nelson III - Professor of Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, and Richard David Scott Chair, Boston Children’s Hospital