Mental development but also growth and somatic development of children is closely related with psychical and social status. Children suffering from severe social and emotional deprivation show substantial deficits not only in mental but also growth and somatic development. It is supposed that children in foster care or institutional care may be exposed to show long-time changes in development and can show significant growth and developmental delays.

We have conducted an extensive study (n = 360) monitoring mental and somatic development in children in foster care - P (n = 120), in institutional care - D (n = 120) and in functional biological families -B (n = 120). We have evaluated the stage of cognitive and emotional development and also somatic development.

The results of the presented study showed that children in institutional and foster care show significant delays in somatic development - i.e. substantially lower values of body height and weight, comparing to children from biological families (p < 0.01). Somatic development is delayed in institutional care and also in children in foster care. Children in institutional and foster care have documented also higher percentage of low birth weight in comparison to children in biological families. Children in institutional care are most delayed in growth and have lowest body weight from the examined groups.

The results of study propose that foster and institutional care may have substantial influence on somatic development of children.