Jari Sinkkonen | University of Turku (original) (raw)

Papers by Jari Sinkkonen

Child: Care, Health and Development, 2011

Objective This study investigated the association between psychological symptoms, such as featur... more Objective This study investigated the association between psychological symptoms, such as features of reactive attachment disorder (RAD), and learning difficulties among international adoptees in Finland.Methods The data for this study came from the FINnish ADOption (FINADO) study covering all internationally adopted children in Finland (n= 1450), with a response rate of 55.7%. The subsample consisted of 395 adopted children aged 9–15 (51.6% girls, 48.4% boys). Learning difficulties were evaluated by a screening questionnaire ‘Five To Fifteen’ and symptoms of RAD by FINADO RAD scale.Results The parents estimated that one‐third (33.4%) of the internationally adopted children had some, and 12.7% had severe learning difficulties, i.e. three and six times more than in normal population, respectively. RAD symptoms at the time of adoption were associated with learning difficulties at school age (OR 4.57, 95% CI 2.57–8.13).Conclusions Learning difficulties are common among internationa...

Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 2018

This nationwide population-based register study examined the family and parental risk factors ass... more This nationwide population-based register study examined the family and parental risk factors associated with offspring reactive attachment disorder (RAD). We identified 614 children diagnosed with RAD from the Finnish Care Register for Health Care and each case was matched with four controls. Univariate and multivariate models examined the associations between risk factors and RAD. In the multivariate model, offspring RAD was associated with only mother, only father and both parents having psychiatric diagnoses. Increased odds were observed for maternal smoking during pregnancy, single motherhood and paternal age ≥ 45 years. This study provides information on several parental adversities and offspring RAD that have important implications for public health, when planning early prevention and interventions in infant mental health.

Child Abuse & Neglect, Sep 1, 2006

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate retrospectively neonatal health and mater... more Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate retrospectively neonatal health and maternal background among a sample of children taken into custody and placed in foster care and to investigate the relation between medical and social risk in the neonatal period.

PLOS ONE, 2021

AimAt arrival in new home country, internationally adopted children often have intestinal parasit... more AimAt arrival in new home country, internationally adopted children often have intestinal parasites. International adoptees also exhibit more behavioral problems than their biological peers. We examined whether intestinal parasite infections in international adoptees on arrival in Finland are associated with their later behavioral and emotional problems.MethodsData for this study were sourced from the Finnish Adoption Study (FinAdo) based on parental questionnaires for all internationally adopted children under 18 years (n= 1450) who arrived in Finland from 1985 to 2007. A total of 1293 families provided sufficient information on the adoptee’s background, parasitic status on arrival, and behavioral symptoms at the median time of 5 years after arrival (mean age = 7.8 years). Behavioral and emotional disorders were evaluated with the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Statistical analyses were conducted using linear regression.ResultsOf the 1293 families, parents of 206 adoptive childre...

Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 2017

International adoptees need to cope with stressful transitions and to develop secure attachment w... more International adoptees need to cope with stressful transitions and to develop secure attachment with their caregivers at the same time. Although most children adopted from abroad adjust fine, they are at increased risk of psychological problems. We investigated whether both child and family-related factors are associated with later psychological problems and whether the length of time spent at home after adoption before daycare moderates these associations among internationally adopted children in Finland (FinAdo, Finnish Adoption Study). The sample consisted of 1,265 children (708 girls, 557 boys) who arrived in Finland before they started school (mean age 2 years at arrival). Later behavioral problems were measured using the Child Behavior Check List (CBCL). According to our results, male gender, older age, child's early clinical symptoms (problems of sensory processing) and single parenthood were associated with later behavioral problems measured by CBCL scores. Longer stay at home before the start of daycare or school modified these results. Longer stay at home was associated with less later behavioral externalizing problems in girls but not in boys compared to those who spent a shorter time at home.

Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 2005

Construct validity of the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire (OSIQ) was studied in a sample of 194 no... more Construct validity of the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire (OSIQ) was studied in a sample of 194 normal Finnish adolescents from 14 to 16 years of age. Confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the hierarchical structure of adolescents’ self-image with 5 lower-order factors loading on a single higher-order factor. Lower-order factors were Personally Anxious Self, Social Relationships, Sexual Attitudes, Family Relationships, and Social Conscience. The relationships between the self-image areas of the OSIQ, global self-esteem, depression, and ego development were also examined. The results support the construct, convergent, and discriminant validity of the presented structure of the OSIQ.

Quality of Life Research, 1996

While data on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of adults are accumulating, very little ... more While data on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of adults are accumulating, very little is known about the HRQOL--and especially the perceived HRQOL--of children. In our study we introduced a 16-dimensional, generic self-assessment measure of HRQOL (16D) for early adolescents, and demonstrated its use with four populations of children aged 12-15: (1) 239 normal schoolchildren, (2) patients waiting for organ transplantation (n = 5), (3) patients with genetic skeletal dysplasias (n = 19), and (4) patients with epilepsy (n = 32). The HRQOL profiles of the patients differed significantly according to the diagnosis, giving support to its construct validity. The reliability of the measure was high: its repeatability coefficient was 91%. The quality of life ratings of the healthy boys and their parents differed on the dimensions of distress, vitality, speech, mental function, and discomfort and symptoms (p &amp;lt; 0.05). In addition, there were significant differences in the health-related valuations between the girls, boys and their parents. We conclude that the assessment of quality of life of adolescents should be based on data collected from the adolescents themselves. Further, the 16D is so far the only generic HRQOL measure designed specifically for this purpose. It is capable of differentiating the HRQOL of healthy adolescents as well as patients with various diagnoses. Our experience also indicates that it is easy to use, yet it seems comprehensive, reliable, and valid.

European Journal of Social Work, 2014

International Journal of Behavioral Development, 2011

... 1,2 Asko Tolvanen,3 Jallu Lindblom,1 Marjo Flykt,1 Leila Unkila-Kallio,4 Aila Tiitinen,4 Leen... more ... 1,2 Asko Tolvanen,3 Jallu Lindblom,1 Marjo Flykt,1 Leila Unkila-Kallio,4 Aila Tiitinen,4 Leena Repokari,4 Jari Sinkkonen,5 ... Social dysfunction, in turn, tends to persist even after the remission of depression (Kennedy, Foy, Sherazi, McDonough, & McKeon, 2007), and can thus ...

Child Psychiatry and Human Development, Aug 1, 2012

This study investigated the prevalence of and factors associated with school bullying and victimi... more This study investigated the prevalence of and factors associated with school bullying and victimization among Finnish international adoptees. The Olweus bully/victim questionnaire was sent to all 9-15-year-old children adopted in Finland between 1985 and 2007 through the mediating organizations officially approved by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The children were identified through official adoption organizations. The response rate in the target sample was 49.4%: the study sample consisted of 364 children (190 girls, 52.2%). The children's background factors and symptoms of reactive attachment disorder (RAD) were evaluated using a FINADO questionnaire. Their learning difficulties and social and language skills were assessed using a standardized parental questionnaire (Five to Fifteen). Of the participants, 19.8% reported victimization by peers while 8% had bullied others. Both victimization and bullying were associated with severe symptoms of RAD at the time of adoption (RR 2.68, 95%CI 1.50-4.77 and RR 2.08, 95%CI 1.17-3.69 for victimization and bullying, respectively). Lack of social skills was associated with victimization (RR 1.74, 95%CI 1.06-2.85) but not independently with being a bully (RR 1.50, 95%CI 0.91-2.45). In a multivariate analysis the child's learning difficulties and language difficulties were not associated with either bullying others or victimization.

Journal of Research on Adolescence, Dec 1, 2007

Journal of Prenatal Perinatal Psychology Health Apppah, Oct 1, 2008

This paper reports on a study designed to explore factors contributing to better outcomes for sub... more This paper reports on a study designed to explore factors contributing to better outcomes for substance abusing pregnant and parenting women in residential treatment, and, as a result, contribute to better outcomes for their children. The setting was three live-in units focusing in supporting both abstinence from substances and mother-child relationship. Participants were 18 mother-baby pairs in treatment from perinatal phase to 4 months of child's age. Pilot results demonstrated more sensitive maternal interaction tended to be associated with higher pre-and postnatal reflective functioning and better child developmental scores at 4 months of child's age. Reflective functioning (RF) refers to the essential human capacity to understand behavior in light of underlying mental states and intentions. An indicated conclusion is that enhancement of maternal reflective ability seems an important focus in developing the content and effectiveness of interventions for substance abusing mothers.

Child Welfare, Sep 1, 2001

Save the Children studied risk factors associated with placement disruption or breakdown in cases... more Save the Children studied risk factors associated with placement disruption or breakdown in cases where long-term foster care was intended. Before their placement in 180 foster families, most of the 234 children studied (75%) had experienced neglect. The followup time after initial placement averaged four years and two months. Achieving long-term beneficial foster care placement of children of varied ages and experiences with abuse and neglect, involved considering the needs of the foster parents who may or may not have their own children or other children in their care. Some children were reunified with their parents; careful evaluation is needed before such reunion.

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 2015

Quantitative literature on international adoptees and racial/ethnic discrimination is lacking des... more Quantitative literature on international adoptees and racial/ethnic discrimination is lacking despite results in qualitative studies from Europe and the United States that have consistently indicated how racism constantly complicates adoptees&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; everyday lives. To advance the literature, the present study examined the prevalence of perceived racial/ethnic discrimination among 213 adult international adoptees in Finland (59.6% women and 40.4% men, mean age 24.1 years), and the association between perceived racial/ethnic discrimination and psychological well-being indicators, including psychological distress and sleeping problems. In addition, we examined social support and sense of coherence as moderators of the association between perceived racial/ethnic discrimination and psychological well-being. Our results showed that, on average, adult international adoptees perceived racial/ethnic discrimination occasionally. Hierarchical linear regression analyses indicated a significant association between perceived racial/ethnic discrimination and psychological distress and sleeping problems. Additionally, a significant 2-way interaction of perceived racial/ethnic discrimination and social support indicated that the availability of social support may moderate the association between perceived racial/ethnic discrimination and psychological distress such that adoptees with high levels of social support may be protected from the harmful effects of discrimination. These results highlight the potential significance of social support in reducing the harmful effects of racial/ethnic discrimination on international adoptees. (PsycINFO Database Record

Scandinavian journal of psychology, 2015

We examined the associations between attachment-related symptoms (symptoms of reactive attachment... more We examined the associations between attachment-related symptoms (symptoms of reactive attachment disorder (RAD), symptoms of disinhibited social engagement disorder (DSED), and clinging) and later psychological problems among international adoptees. The study population comprised internationally adopted children (591 boys and 768 girls, 6-15 years) from the ongoing Finnish Adoption (FinAdo) study. Data were gathered with self-administered questionnaires both from adoptive parents and from adoptees aged over 9 years. Attachment-related symptoms were measured using of a short (8-item) questionnaire and later behavioral/emotional problems were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Five to Fifteen (FTF) scale for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. RAD and DSED symptom subscales were associated with an increased risk of emotional and behavioral problems and ADHD. Especially the mixed type of attachment-related symptoms was strongly associated ...

Onset of puberty is known to be a stressful period of life. The young adolescent must face severa... more Onset of puberty is known to be a stressful period of life. The young adolescent must face several simultaneous developmental challenges, which are reflected as a gap in self-image. In this study, relationships between biological pubertal events and self-image were analyzed in a sample of 59 healthy adolescent boys from the Helsinki area. Detailed information on pubertal development was collected by a pediatrician at three-month intervals. The subjects filled in the Offer Self-image Questionnaire at 13 and at 14 years and were interviewed by a child psychiatrist. During the year, self-image increased in four domains: Impulse Control, Emotional Tone, Sexual Attitudes, and Psychopathology. The changes in the first two domains were related to pubertal events. In contrast, changes in emotional health and in sexual attitudes did not correlate with bodily changes or testosterone. As regards body image, differences were not found in relation to age, but in relation to genital stages. These findings indicate that some aspects of self-image develop as a function of psychological and cognitive maturation, while other aspects are related to biological events.