Effects of Institutional Care

Institutionalising children has been shown to cause a wide range of problems for their development, well-being and longer-term outcomes. Institutional care does not adequately provide the level of positive individual attention from consistent caregivers which is essential for the successful emotional, physical, mental, and social development of children. This is profoundly relevant for children under 3 years of age for whom institutional care has been shown to be especially damaging. 

Displaying 1 - 10 of 757

Aapo Hiilamo, Joonas Pitkanen, Margherita Moretti, et. al,

Using nationwide register data from Finland (1980–2020), this study shows that the lifetime risk of children entering out-of-home care more than doubled, with a notable rise in residential care placements. At the same time, the average duration of care shortened, and the likelihood of children returning home before age 18 increased significantly.

Ajarni Maidar, Radhiah Zakaria, Meutia Zahara, Asnawi Abdullah,

This study examined factors influencing depression among adolescents living in orphanages in Central Aceh Regency, Indonesia. The findings highlight the need to prioritize interventions that strengthen social support networks, while also exploring additional psychosocial factors such as caregiver relationships, trauma experiences, and coping strategies.

Namra Shahzadi, Misbah Arshad,

Bullying in Pakistani orphanages is a serious but understudied issue that threatens children’s physical and psychological well-being. This study surveyed 600 adolescents aged 10–19 from orphanages in Gujrat, Gujranwala, and Lahore to examine the effects of bullying.

Better Care Network, Lumos, UNICEF, and WHO,

The second WHO and UNICEF-facilitated Digital Dialogue, following the 2024 Global Ministerial Conference, convened over 400 participants to explore how care reform can help prevent violence against children. Co-hosted by Better Care Network, Lumos, UNICEF, and WHO, the session highlighted country experiences, regional efforts, and the urgent need for integrated, family-based solutions to end institutional violence and protect every child.

Ekaette Raphael Udoh,

This study investigated how conditions in orphanages—such as limited resources, unstable relationships, and overcrowding—affect children’s personality development in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, using surveys of both caregivers and orphans. Findings showed that these factors negatively impact self-esteem and overall development, highlighting the need for greater government investment, adequate resources, and specialized caregiver training in child psychology and development.

Lorena Contreras-Taibo, Camila Peralta-García, Constanza Albarrán-Ávalos, and Antonella Bossano-Colombo,,

El abuso sexual infantil constituye un grave problema mundial que resulta muy difícil develar, particularmente en contextos institucionales y sin soporte familiar. Desde allí, se busca comprender, desde la perspectiva de personas adultas sobrevivientes y psicólogas tratantes, las experiencias de develación del abuso en entornos residenciales en Chile y las respuestas institucionales tras su develación.

Shian Yin,

This study explored the experiences of 14 adolescents living in a ci'aiyuan childcare institution in Xiangxi, China, finding that it sometimes fostered supportive relationships, enhanced perceived social support, and facilitated positive life changes. While these accounts challenge dominant negative views of institutional care, the study emphasizes the need to address ongoing complexities and challenges in such settings.

Andrew Burns, Maximilian Schäfer,

In this paper, two researchers with backgrounds in ethnography describe and reflect on their experiences from a qualitative, transnational study called 'Back to the Future: Archiving in Residential Children's Homes (ARCH) in Scotland and Germany. Important goals of the study are the investigation and development of digital community archives for young people, care workers and care leavers from residential homes in order to support their memories of shared everyday life.

Silvana Milozzi,

This systematic review of open-access research examined the effects of parental separation on children, identifying a wide range of adverse outcomes including neurological changes, trauma, abuse, poor academic performance, mental health disorders, and risky behaviors. The risk is highest between ages 9 months and 9 years, particularly when separation is abrupt, occurs in preschool years, involves care by strangers, or coincides with a change of residence.

Nofar Mazursky,

This study aims to explore the experiences of gender expressions among transgender youth who aged out of out-of-home care in Israel.