Longitudinal analyses of adoptive parents’ expectations and depressive symptoms

Abstract

Grounded in a theoretical model specific to adoptive parents, we examined the relationship between parental expectations and depressive symptoms across time. Assessments of 129 adoptive parents of 64 children were performed at three time points before and after placement of an adopted child with the family: 4–6 weeks pre-placement and 4–6 weeks and 5–6 months post-placement. Expectations were assessed in four dimensions: expectations of self as parents, of the child, of family and friends, and of society. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale. Associations between parental expectations and depressive symptoms were analyzed, and longitudinal multilevel modeling was conducted to explore influences on expectations over time. Parental expectations changed from pre-to post-placement. With the exception of expectations of self as parent, adoptive parents’ pre-adoption expectations were affirmed in the post-adoption time periods. In each expectation dimension, higher affirmation of expectations was correlated with decreased depressive symptoms before and after placement of a child. While parental expectations are not unique to adoptive parents, the essence and characteristics of certain expectations are unique to these parents. When working with adoptive parents, nurses who care for families should assess expectations both pre-and post-placement with awareness of their relationship to depressive symptoms.

Parenting in the “extreme”: An exploration into the psychological well‐being of long‐term adoptive mothers

“…This could be understood as mothers continuously realigning expectations of themselves and their child in response to real experiences of parenting. Foli et al's (2017aFoli et al's ( , 2017b mid-range theory of post-adoption depression helps to explain such changes, suggesting that mothers' levels of depression decrease as alignment between expectation and reality increases. However, our findings indicated that mothers continue to experience NegMH even when expectations of self and child are adjusted, suggesting factors associated with the daily function of adoptive parenting put mothers at risk of NegMH, such as the experience of "extreme parenting.…”

Parental Infertility: Impact of the Quality of the Relation between Parents and Adopted Children

“…Couples willing to adopt a child with problems were more likely to establish a healthy relationship with their adopted child (Figure 1), perhaps because these couples are less prone to idealize the adopted child than those not willing to adopt a child with problems. Indeed, when expectations become too high these may hinder establishment of a healthy relationship (Foli et al, 2017). Martin and Rosenhauer (2016) demonstrated that mothers adopting a child with problems had high positive adjustment and less depression and anxiety levels.…”

Using Symbolic Interactionism to Model Transitions to Adoptive Parenthood

“…Symbolic interactionism tells us that in this case, without a me that reflects potential difficulty, there is no I prepared to take necessary action to address whatever may arise. Research describes discrepancies between parental expectations before adoption and lived experience after adoption (Brabender & Fallon, 2013;Denby et al, 2011;Foli, Lim, & South, 2017b;Moyer & Goldberg, 2017). Evidence also indicates that some parents who adopt have more difficulty transitioning to adoptive family life than and others (Moyer & Goldberg, 2017;Tasker & Wood, 2016).…”