Effects of Iron Deficiency on Social-Emotional Behavior of Internationally Adopted Children

Abstract

Iron Deficiency Anemia affects 20-25% of infants around the world, and even more are experiencing iron deficiency without anemia. Iron Deficiency has been reported in internationally adopted children, including those from Eastern Europe, China and Guatemala. Infants with iron deficiencies are known to test lower on various measures of development as well as show differences in affect. Infants' social-emotional behavior has been shown to be adversely affected by iron deficiency with or without anemia. The aim of this study is to assess the differences between post-institutionalized children with iron deficiency and those without on measures of social-emotional behavior.