Process of adoption communication openness in adoptive families: adopters’ perspective

Abstract

Communication about adoption is a family interaction process which is more than the simple exchange of information. Adoption communication can be characterized in terms of the level of openness of family conversations regarding the child's past and the degree of the family's adoption social disclosure. The objective of this study is to explore the process of adoption communication openness in Portuguese adoptive families by identifying the impact of variables related to the adoption process, the adoptive parenting and the adoptee. One hundred twenty five parents of children aged 3 to 15, who were adopted on average 4 years ago, participated in this study. Data was collected during home visits using the Parents Adoption Process Interview. A cluster analysis identified three different groups of families according to the level of adoption communication openness within the family and outside. The findings also showed that the process of the adoption communication openness started when parents decided to adopt, developed in parent-child interaction and was susceptible to change under professional intervention. The relevance of training given to prospective adopters and of professional practice based on scientific evidence is highlighted.

Talking about the Birth Family since the Beginning: The Communicative Openness in the New Adoptive Family

“…These results are in line with the literature which highlights how talking about the birth family could be a challenge for adoptive families [9,20,35], especially in families who adopt from another country and often do not have any information about the birth parents. The challenge of openly communicating about adoption-related issues is often reported in the literature, based on the theory of the cycle of closed communication [10]. According to this theory, adoptive parents do not talk about adoption because they wait for their children to ask questions, but the children do not ask because they do not perceive their parents as being ready enough to communicate openly.…”

“…CO is not only an exchange of information between the adoptive parents and the adopted child, but also consists of feelings, deep meanings, and emotions strictly tied to the adoption itself [10]. Many aspects are discussed together in the CO process: the child's past life with and without the birth family, life in institutions, the adoptive parents' desire to meet the child, and the first period together as a new family [11].…”

“…For all these reasons, studying the process of communication among adoptive family members is crucial, and there are a growing number of studies focused on this theme. However, several aspects remain unexplored [10]. To the best of our knowledge, there is a paucity of studies that analyze when adoptive families start to communicate about adoption-related issues.…”

The Evolving Nature and Process of Foster Family Communication: An Application and Adaptation of the Family Adoption Communication Model

“…Because we are storytelling beings (Fisher, ) and narratives serve sense‐making, identity, and coping functions (Koenig Kellas, ), it may come as no surprise that storytelling is central to parent–child communication during this phase. In fact, Wrobel et al () regard storytelling as the first and most essential task for adoptive parents and research has indicated the sharing of the adoption story ought to happen early and often in adoptive families (Barbosa‐Ducharne & Soares, ; Baxter, Norwood, Asbury, Jannusch, & Scharp, ). As Brodzinsky () explained, young children are often able to label themselves as “adopted” and learn the language of adoption such that they develop the capacity to talk about being adopted, although they might not always fully understand what adoption means.…”

Adoption openness and adoption stigma: a retrospective study of adult adoptees

“…This means that adoptive parents speak both about the child’s past life and birth family (Brodzinsky 2006 ). As Barbosa-Ducharne and Soares ( 2016 ) suggest adoption openness is a part of the adoption communication process and besides the act of information, it entails feelings, joys, frustrations, and doubts about the adoption status. Brodzinsky ( 2005 ) described the openness of adoption communication as “a willingness on the part of individuals to consider the meaning of adoption in their lives, to share that meaning with others, to explore adoption-related issues in the context of family life, to acknowledge and support the child’s dual connection to two families” (p.149).…”