Adoption breakdown and adolescence

Abstract

Adoption breakdown has attracted an increasing amount of attention over recent years, and studies coincide in stating that the mean age at which this phenomenon occurs is early adolescence. Nevertheless, the specific factors which influence adoption breakdown, have never been empirically explored. The aim of this article is therefore to analyse these factors by comparing cases of adoption breakdown which occurred prior to the onset of adolescence with those occurring after the beginning of this developmental stage. The study explores 69 cases of adoption breakdown occurring over the course of a decade in one Spanish region, taking into consideration variables related to the adopted children, the adoptive parents, the parent-child relationship, and the professional support services provided to these families. The results reveal a clear difference in the profile of breakdowns occurring before and after the onset of adolescence and identify a series of factors which seem to have a stronger influence in each group, such as violence, timing of problems, and unrealistic expectations regarding the child. These findings have important implications for professional adoption services, such us the importance of early identification of difficulties and the provision of support during adolescence. KEYWORDSadolescence, adoption breakdown, adoption disruption, professional intervention product of a single cause, adoption breakdowns are typically the result of an accumulation of risk factors linked to the adopted child, the adoptive parents, the child-parent relationship, and the help and support provided by professional adoption services. As shown in the review by Palacios et al. (2018), the highest level of agreement can be found in relation to child-related risk factors, with older age at placement and behavioural problems being the two aspects identified most frequently in the research.However, whereas age at placement is highlighted in almost all studies, age at breakdown has received considerably less attention.Research has consistently found that it is during the early years of adolescence that most adoption breakdowns take place. Maza (2014); Palacios, Jiménez-Morago, and Paniagua (2015); Rolock and White (2016); and Selwyn, Meakings, and Wijedasa (2014) coincide in identifying age 13-14 years old as the mean age at which most premature departures from the family home take place, usually after several years of problems and difficulties (on average, between five and six, according to Selwyn et al., 2014, andPalacios et al., 2015). Nevertheless, more often than not, this information is provided at a purely descriptive level, and no in-depth analysis is offered.Just as for their nonadopted counterparts, the transition to adolescence and the teen years are a difficult developmental period for adopted children, characterized by changes that may trigger maladaptive and problematic behaviour. Both research on domestic adoptions (Miller, Fan, Christensen, Grotevant, & Van Dulmen, 2000) and studies and meta-analyses on internatio...

Heterosexual and sexual minority adoptive parents’ help-seeking and service satisfaction of pediatricians and mental health providers

“…Indeed, some research suggests an intensification of attachment and/or behavior problems among some adopted children as they approach adolescence (Askeland et al, 2017; Bimmel, Juffer, Van IJzendoorn, & Bakermans-Kranenburg, 2003)—although adoptive parents may attribute such challenges to adolescence rather than their children’s adoptive status (Bañez, 2017). The provision of support is critical during this stage, as parents may be more likely to consult with providers during this period and be sensitive to perceived adoption insensitivity as they navigate their children’s adolescence and important milestones (Paniagua, Palacios, & Jiménez-Morago, 2019). Qualitative research that addresses how parents experience health care across their child’s developmental stage may offer further insight into the expectations of health-care providers.…”

Dissolução da adoção: (des)encontros entre maternidade e filiação

“…Brodzinsky e Smith (2019) revelam que muitas crianças, ao serem adotadas, carregam histórico de traumas e adversidades advindos de sua família de origem, o que pode dificultar sua adaptação à nova família. Além disso, algumas características de Julia, como a idade na adoção e problemas emocionais e comportamentais, são apontadas como de risco para a dissolução da adoção (Faulkner et al, 2017;Paniagua et al, 2019;Selwyn et al, 2014;Wijedasa & Selwyn, 2017). Todavia, a construção de vínculo é uma via de mão dupla, sendo necessário atentar para todos os envolvidos no processo.…”

“…Em vários pontos da entrevista, Lucia se refere à necessidade de atenção à família no processo que se segue à efetivação da adoção, apontando deficiências do sistema de apoio psicológico no pós-adoção, principalmente quanto ao acesso a profissionais com conhecimento especializado na área. Na literatura internacional, pesquisas sobre dissolução indicam a necessidade de acompanhamento posterior à adoção, especialmente no período de transição para adolescência, dada a amplitude de desafios que essa exige (Maza, 2014;Paniagua et al, 2019;Rolock & White, 2016). Corroborando essa ideia, Waid e Alewine (2018) asseguram que os serviços de apoio às famílias por adoção devem ser intensificados quando as crianças estão passando por transições de desenvolvimento, sendo o momento de maior busca por esse tipo de ajuda aquele que corresponde à passagem da infância para a adolescência, por ser um período particularmente vulnerável para algumas famílias.…”

“…A literatura nacional tem denominado o retorno de crianças e adolescentes às instituições de acolhimento após adoção como "devolução" (Levinzon, 2006;Schettini, Amazonas, & Dias, 2006); contudo, neste trabalho, optou-se por utilizar o termo dissolução da adoção, ainda que, no decorrer do artigo, foi mantida a terminologia utilizada pelos autores citados. Mesmo que não haja uma previsão legal para a ocorrência da dissolução da adoção, entende-se que a nomenclatura "devolução" traz uma perspectiva de coisificação e um centramento na figura da criança, que deve ser evitado, considerando que é frequente atribuir o insucesso da adoção a características dela (Campidelli & Bertoncini, 2018;Carnaúba & Ferret, 2018;Levy, Pinho, & Faria, 2009;Muniz, 2016;Santos, 2018;Souza & Casanova, 2018), tais como idade na adoção (Faulkner, Adkins, Fong, & Rolock, 2017;Paniagua, Palacios, & Jiménez-Morago, 2019), problemas emocionais e de comportamento (Faulkner et al, 2017;Rosnati, Ranieri, & Ferrari, 2017;White, 2016) e número de passagens por lares adotivos (Rolock & White, 2016;Selwyn, Wijedasa, & Meakings, 2014). No Brasil, são escassos os estudos sobre o fenômeno (Rossato & Falcke, 2017), possivelmente por não haver previsão legal para a ocorrência da dissolução da adoção (Brasil, 1990;Brasil, 2009).…”

Prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders and their impact on the health and social well-being among looked after children (LAC): a systematic review protocol

“…For this review, the term LAC will represent those children who have been removed voluntarily or involuntarily from their biological home and placed in an ‘out of home’ care setting in either residential, foster or kinship including adoption [ 70 ]. Although the adopted child is no longer considered a LAC after completing the adoption process, a large majority of these children would have previously been LAC [ 71 , 72 ]. The adoption can also be reverted if the relationship breaks down or the parent wishes to reclaim the child during the process [ 71 , 72 ].…”