Awareness of Same-Sex Relationships between Children in Romanian Long-Term Residential Centers
Awareness of Same-Sex Relationships between Children in Romanian Long-Term Residential Centers

Summary/Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of awareness of same-sex relationships among school-aged children living in Romanian orphanages in late 90s in a sample consisting of 1,353 children (703 boys and 650 girls), ages 7 - 20 years old who were residing in 48 institutions. The results showed that 59% had heard about sexual relations between children of the same-sex. When asked about peer same-sex relationships in their current institutional setting, only 23% responded affirmatively. This 21% decrease in children’s responses could indicate underreporting of this phenomenon due to fear of negative consequences and, therefore, reluctance to disclose such sensitive information about these behaviors within the institutions where they were placed. These results provide insight into a topic of children’s institutionalization that is insufficiently studied and may be informative for practitioners working with institutionalized children, and policy-makers tasked with improving children’s quality of care.

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