Emotional distress, resilience and adaptability: a qualitative study of adults who experienced infant abandonment

Abstract

Background: There is very little insight into the emotional effects of adult survivors of infant abandonment. The rate and reasons for abandonment differ by country, region and economic background. Depending on country, age and era, abandoned children may be cared for by a series of alternative arrangements, ranging from care homes, institutions, foster care, alternative care environments or even reside as street children. As abandonment is relatively rare in the UK, formal procedures, documentation, provision and handling are often overlooked in policy guidance. Method: A qualitative study was conducted with 16 adult survivors of infant abandonment drawn from a UK sample. Participant interviews were recorded verbatim and transcribed. The full transcripts were coded for emerging (n = 14) and then higher order (n = 3) themes. Results: Higher order themes suggest that interpersonal issues relating to relationship formation and personal emotional coping were key factors. Both positive and negative emotions and actions were documented at the personal and interpersonal levels. Of specific note were effects resulting from formal health and welfare systems as they navigated through documentation, medical encounters and contact with agencies. Their recollections encompassed extensive internal grief over the course of many years. Yet, for many, there were simultaneous threads of resilience and adaptation. Conclusions: Support pathways are wanting and these findings suggest a number of potential interventions and/or provision required from an early age to ameliorate or obviate such emotional strain. Given the rarity of abandonment, this insight may assist in policy change, especially with regard to support provision. Documentation needs to be maintained for the longer term -with the current practice of five-year limits unhelpful to this group. It may be many years after the abandonment that they embark on searches for information. Lessons for adoptive parents regarding the unique situation of abandoned babies may also be of benefit.

Disclosure and identity experiences of adults abandoned as babies: A qualitative study

“…Child abandonment, the act of renouncing all interests in one's child with no intention of reclaiming them, is a long-standing issue that is illegal in many countries. Yet, abandonment continues and remains a worldwide issue (Pruitt, 2008;Sherr, Mueller, & Fox, 2009;Sherr, Roberts, & Croome, 2017). Rates of abandonment are rarely available (Lee, Li, Kwong, & So, 2006;Sherr et al, 2009).…”

Beowulf and babies

“…31 Only one very recent study has considered the emotional impact on the child, arguing that, among its small sample group of adults who were abandoned as infants, found, and adopted, respondents described their 'ongoing' difficulties 'to foster and maintain relationships'. 32 They stated that 'long-term extensive internal grief … [was] a core part of their being and was ever present, even for those who had in some ways managed to navigate or contain such feelings'; and they noted 'feelings of anger and resentment … targeted at their mother figure'. 33 The study does not query the early childhood experiences of respondents, which may have contributed to their relationship difficulties and feelings of grief and anger as adults.…”

Revista De Psicología Volumen 11, Número 2, Julio - Diciembre 2021

“…La resiliencia hace referencia a «la capacidad de un sistema dinámico para resistir o recuperarse de desafíos significativos que amenazan su estabilidad, viabilidad o desarrollo» (Masten, 2011, p. 494), lo cual incluye un abanico de características protectoras como la autoestima, el autorrespeto y la autoeficacia (Rutter, 1999). La resiliencia en adolescentes abandonados se ha visto relacionada con la separación de los padres (Rowe et al, 2016), el maltrato familiar (Jaffee et al, 2007), el abandono familiar (Sherr et al, 2017), la soledad, la desesperanza (Rew et al, 2001), el optimismo, el afrontamiento activo (Domhardt et al, 2015) y el autoconcepto (Zolkoski & Bullock, 2012).…”