Fathers, Mothers and Marriages: What Shapes Adoption Conversations in Families with Young Adopted Children?

Abstract

We explored factors that influence parental involvement in adoption dialogues in 66 internationally adoptive, heterosexual couples with 4-to 7-year old children. Correlates of adoption involvement varied by parent sex. Mothers were more involved in talking about adoption than fathers, but adoption involvement was also correlated within couples. Emphasis on the difference between biological versus adoptive parenting, quality of the marital relationship, and child characteristics were differentially associated with maternal and paternal involvement. Findings suggest an intricate interplay between the marital and co-parental dynamics that shape the early communication process within adoptive families.

Exploring the Narrative Process: An Analysis of the Adoption Stories Mothers Tell Their Internationally Adopted Children

“…Wrobel et al (2003) explained that the adoption story which typically contains information regarding birth parents and the circumstances surrounding the adoption is told during infancy or preschool years to ensure the adoption revelation comes from the parents rather than another source and sets the tone for future adoption-related talk. Whereas adoption-talk that follows the adoption storytelling process is often child-guided, the adoption storytelling process has been described as directed and controlled by the parent (Freeark et al 2008;Wrobel et al, 2003).…”

“…The current study responds to Galvin's call by addressing the first phase of the FAC model -where parents control the direction and content of the adoption story by presenting unsolicited information regarding the adoption to their children (Wrobel et al, 2003). Extant research on adoption stories told to children has identified themes present in stories (Krusiewicz & Wood, 2001), discussed the challenges experienced by adoptive parents as they prepare the story (Jones & Hackett, 2007), and highlighted the sensitivity related to the process of storytelling (Freeark, Rosenblum, Hus, & Root, 2008). Wrobel et al (2003) explained that the adoption story which typically contains information regarding birth parents and the circumstances surrounding the adoption is told during infancy or preschool years to ensure the adoption revelation comes from the parents rather than another source and sets the tone for future adoption-related talk.…”

“…Although it is expected that all adoptive families share similar communication experiences telling the adoption story, it is important to investigate potential intricacies of families formed through international adoption. Whereas members in families formed through domestic adoption tend to have access to adoption-related details, parents of internationally adopted children often lack details and, as a result, are faced with making choices about how extensively to construct their adoption story (Freeark et al, 2008).…”

La fonction narcissique de la fantasmatique filiale chez les adoptés internationaux

“…Les circonstances de l'abandon, les informations relatives aux parents biologiques et les questions d'ordre génétique ne sont que quelques exemples de ces éléments mystérieux qui font partie de l'identité de l'adopté. Les informations que détient l'enfant adopté à l'international sont habituellement celles que ses parents adoptifs connaissent et qu'ils ont décidé de lui transmettre via le récit de son adoption (Freeark, Rosenblum, Hus et Root, 2008). Or, ce récit d'adoption est un enjeu délicat (Freeark et al, 2008) et la façon dont les parents l'abordent peut avoir d'importantes consé-quences sur l'ajustement psychologique ultérieur de l'enfant (Friedlander, 1999).…”

“…Les informations que détient l'enfant adopté à l'international sont habituellement celles que ses parents adoptifs connaissent et qu'ils ont décidé de lui transmettre via le récit de son adoption (Freeark, Rosenblum, Hus et Root, 2008). Or, ce récit d'adoption est un enjeu délicat (Freeark et al, 2008) et la façon dont les parents l'abordent peut avoir d'importantes consé-quences sur l'ajustement psychologique ultérieur de l'enfant (Friedlander, 1999). Ce que les parents adoptifs décident de partager ou non à leur enfant peut influencer la perception qu'il a de lui-même, de son pays d'origine, de son adoption, de sa famille biologique et même, de ses parents adoptifs.…”