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1-3 Short Paper: Interaction of Biology and Environment
Brynne Nicholas
Southern New Hampshire University
PSY 322: Adolescent Development
Instructor Joseph Wilner
September 4, 2022
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There are a variety of biological and environmental issues that interact in ways that may
explain international adoptee’s physical growth problems after arriving to their new homes.
Physical growth and developmental issues of international adoptees are impacted by biological
factors such as malnutrition, hormones, and genetic inheritance (“What are some biological and
environmental factors that could affect a child's development?” 2021). The appropriate intake of
carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fats is vital for physical and mental development
and growth. Malnutrition occurs when there is an inadequate intake of the above causing a
nutritional deficiency (“Tackling malnutrition: A systematic review of 15-year research
evidence...”). Malnutrition can cause immune systems to become weaker, muscle and weight
loss, hair loss, and other symptoms. Because many international adoptees come from countries or
families living in poverty, malnutrition seems to have one of the greatest effects on their physical
and mental development. "Deficiency of nutrients or malnutrition will interfere with growth
hormones such as lack of protein, zinc, vitamins" (Sari, Y.O., Arminuddin, A., Hamid, F.,
Prihantono, P., Bahar, B., & Hadjn, V., 2021). This causes low concentrations of hormones such
as the Growth Hormone and the insulin-like Growth Factor which hinders growth in length or
height of the child (Sari, Y.O., Arminuddin, A., Hamid, F., Prihantono, P., Bahar, B., & Hadjn,
