Psychology

‘We were not planning on this, but …’: Adoptive parents' reactions and adaptations to unmet expectations

Document Type

Article

Abstract

This study explored adoptive parents' responses to unexpected characteristics of their children with a lens of family stress theory. Ninety individuals in 45 couples, 30 of whom adopted via child welfare and 15 of whom adopted via private domestic adoption, were interviewed 3 months post-adoptive placement regarding unfulfilled expectations about their child's age, gender, race and special needs. Unmet expectations were especially stressful when parents lacked support and when they perceived themselves as having little power to ‘mould’ their children. In contrast, perceptions of adequate support and cognitive flexibility appeared to facilitate positive experiences during parents' transition to adoptive parenthood. Implications for professionals are discussed, including suggestions for pre-adoption training and provision of post-adoption support.

Publication Title

Child and Family Social Work

Publication Date

2017

Volume

22

First Page

12

Last Page

21

ISSN

1356-7500

DOI

10.1111/cfs.12219

Keywords

adoption/post-adoption, foster care, parenting/parenthood, sexual orientation

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