Family interactions in adoptive compared to nonadoptive families.

Abstract

Despite the large and growing numbers of adoptive families, little research describes interactions in families with adopted adolescents. Yet, adopted adolescents' increased risk for adjustment problems, combined with the association between family interactions and adolescent adjustment in nonadoptive families, raises questions about differences in adoptive and nonadoptive family interactions. We compared observed and self-reported family interactions between 284 adoptive and 208 nonadoptive families and within 123 families with 1 adopted and 1 nonadopted adolescent. Adolescents averaged 14.9 years of age. Comparisons were made using analysis of variance incorporating hierarchical linear methods in SAS PROC MIXED to control family-related correlations in the data. Parents and children reported more conflict in adoptive families when compared with nonadoptive families. Families with 1 adopted and 1 nonadopted adolescent reported more conflict between parents and adopted adolescents. Observed parental behavior was similar across adoptive and nonadoptive children although adopted adolescents were less warm and, in families with 2 adopted children, more conflictual than nonadopted adolescents. These findings suggest a need for further investigation of the association between family interactions and adopted adolescent problem behavior.

Review: Adoption research: Trends, topics, outcomes

“…But what is more characteristic of the current trend is its focus on family and relational processes. This can be illustrated, for instance, with reference to the analysis of interaction processes in families with and without adopted adolescents carried out by Rueter, Keyes, Iacono, & McGue (2009). This study found more similarities than differences in the way family members interacted with one another.…”

Developmental Change and Time-Specific Variation in Global and Specific Aspects of Self-Concept in Adolescence and Association With Depressive Symptoms

“…Parental behavior is similar across adopted and nonadopted children (Rueter, Keyes, Iacono, & McGue, 2009) and adoptive parents are able to offer the child secure parent– child attachment relationships (Juffer, Bakermans–Kranenburg, & Van IJzendoorn, 2005). For adopted and nonadopted alike, both positive self-control and moral self-approval were connected to being brought up in expressive families that encouraged close and good communication (Kelly, Towner-Thyrum, Rigby,& Martin, 1998).…”

Adoptive Family Relationships and Healthy Adolescent Development: A Risk and Resilience Analysis

“…However, studies have only recently begun documenting adoptive family interactions and family factors that promote healthy outcomes for adopted adolescents (Palacios & Sánchez-Sandoval, 2005; Reuter, Keyes, Iacono, & McGue, 2009;Whitten, 2001). This paper Theoretical Perspectives…”