Children's Conception of Adoption: A Preliminary Investigation

Brodzinsky, David M.; Pappas, Christine C.; Singer, Leslie M.; Braff, Anne M.

doi:10.1093/jpepsy/6.2.177

Cited by 23 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…Participants' recommendations and additional comments are consistent with other work that has documented the importance of adoptive parents engaging in open, honest, ageappropriate, adoption-related conversations with their adopted children (Brodzinsky, Pappas, Singer, & Braff, 1981;Eldridge, 2009;Triseliotis, 1973;Triseliotis & Smith,1985) and telling children about their adoption at a young age (Melina, 1998). Additionally, these quotes provide insights into how parent-child communications may impact adoptees' overall well-being.…”

Section: Theme 2: Early Open Honest Age-appropriate Conversationssupporting

confidence: 72%

Adopted college students' family adoption communication processes: A mixed methods study

Baltimore

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Section: Theme 2: Early Open Honest Age-appropriate Conversationssupporting

confidence: 72%

Adopted college students' family adoption communication processes: A mixed methods study

Baltimore

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“…In addition, a study of 60 non-adopted children clearly confirmed the developmental trends in children's understanding of adoption (Brodzinsky et al, 1981), as with other abstract concepts. Researchers concluded that children's acquisition of social knowledge, and thus adoption, is constructed in the same way as their knowledge of the physical world which includes qualitative changes in their understanding of adoption as their age increases.…”

Section: Understanding Adoption As a Conceptmentioning

confidence: 63%

“…Adoption is a very complicated construct that is difficult to reduce to simple terms, especially when conveying information to children regardless of claiming differences or not. Brodzinsky et al (1981Brodzinsky et al ( , 1984 found that children ages 2-4 years are fairly incapable of understanding this complex issue; however, the majority of parents fail to understand this developmental inability to understand the concept of adoption. In fact, these researchers concluded that parents often believe their children understand more about adoption than they actually do.…”

Section: Adoption As a Stigma?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The majority agree it is an intermittent process that occurs over time (Nickman et al) and that adults should be honest with children (Triseliotis, 1985). The prevailing practice has been to tell adopted children while they are toddlers or preschoolers (Bernard, 1963;Brodzinsky et al, 1981Brodzinsky et al, , 1984Mech, 1973;Melina 1989Melina , 1998Raynor, 1980). For instance, Triseliotis' (1973) study of adult adoptees revealed that being told of their adoption at an early age led to greater feelings of satisfaction.…”

Section: Understanding Adoption As a Conceptmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Understanding the concept of adoption: a qualitative analysis with adoptees and their parents

Baltimore

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I am so incredibly blessed to have such wonderful children and supportive family members. To my husband, Chip, thank you for your patience, understanding, and support which has helped me further my education. I truly appreciate your extra help around the house, with my schoolwork, and with our children. To my outstanding children, Blake and Danielle, thank you for letting me work, go to school, study, and still be a mom! I am the luckiest mom in the whole wide world! Most importantly, I appreciate everyone's love, support, and prayers. To my parents, Duane and Helen, thank you for teaching me the value of hard work, education, and perseverance. I would not be able to accomplish my goals without these values. To my brother Troy, thank you for your support. To my biological family, thank you for giving me the material to work with for my thesis. Grandma, thanks for your "uncanny" encouragement and role-modeling of a very strong, well-read, well-educated woman. You were a "woman before your time." Sedahlia Jasper Crase, thank you so much for your guidance, wisdom, keen eye for detail, and modeling of professionalism! I have learned so much from you. Thank you for taking me on as an additional student when your workload was already incomprehensible! To my committee members, Mack Shelley and Ron Werner-Wilson, thank you for your insights and comments. Mack, your eye for detail and modesty are great examples for me! Ron, thanks for advising from "afar." I appreciate your willingness to remain on my committee. vi Lastly, thank you to all the wonderful families who shared their hearts, homes, and experiences with me so I could learn more about adoption! I look forward to working with you so we can make a difference! vii ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of children's and adults' experiences with adoption. This qualitative study used individual interviews to examine 25 participants-8 adoptive mothers and fathers, and their 5-to 14-year-old sons (n=5) and daughters (n=4) adopted before 18 months. Data were collected using a phenomenological methodology and analysis of the data was guided by the following research questions: (a) What are children's and parents' 1 overall experiences with adoption? (b) What is the social construction of adoption? (c) What do children understand about the concept of adoption and how do they construct that understanding? (d) How do language and word choices influence the concept of adoption? (e) What would you like others to know about adoption? Analysis followed steps defined by Moustakas and others and revealed five interactive themes that resonated among all families (a) parents' beliefs/experiences, (b) the need for education and change to promote adoption and positive adoption terminology, (c) communication, (d) children's understanding, (e) and identity. Limitations, future research possibilities, policy implications and implications for those who counsel, teach, and work with parents and children who have experienced adoption were identified. 1 The te...

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“…In working with siblings of autistic children, we have found it important to ensure that the children are provided age appropriate information about their brother's or sister's handicap. As in the case when communicating to children about other issues such as adoption (Brodzinsky, Pappas, Singer & Braff, 1981), death (Spinetta, 1974) or illness (Simeonsson, Buckley & Monson, 1979), one must take care to ensure that the facts are communicated a t a n age appropriate level and that the parents realize this educational process must continue over time. A four-year-old child may use the label "autistic" to describe his older brother, but have to be told repeatedly a t different ages what autism actually means.…”

Section: The Impact Of the Autistic Child Upon Siblingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intervention Planning for the Family of the Autistic Child: A Multilevel Assessment of the Family System*

Harris

1984

J Marital Family Therapy

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The clinician working with the family of an autistic child may need to assess the family at several levels. The first level requires an assessment of the behavioral deficits and excesses of the child. The next level examines the family in terms of their behavioral skills and the impediments that occur when they implement behavior change programs. The third level involves assessing the family unit to identify obstacles to change. While many well‐functioning families may be stressed by the crises that arise in raising an autistic child, other families are predisposed to dysfunction regardless of the presence of the child.

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Children's Conception of Adoption: A Preliminary Investigation

Cited by 23 publications

References 0 publications

Adopted college students' family adoption communication processes: A mixed methods study

Adopted college students' family adoption communication processes: A mixed methods study

Understanding the concept of adoption: a qualitative analysis with adoptees and their parents

Intervention Planning for the Family of the Autistic Child: A Multilevel Assessment of the Family System*

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