The effectiveness of psychological interventions with adoptive parents on adopted children and adolescents’ outcomes: A systematic review

Abstract

Adopted children and adolescents are at an increased risk of experiencing emotional, behavioural and relational difficulties compared to their non-adopted peers. This systematic review aimed to establish the effectiveness of interventions with adoptive parents on adopted children and adolescents' psychological well-being, behavioural functioning and parent-child relationship. A systematic search was performed adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), including studies that assessed the effects of interventions with adoptive parents on adopted child and adolescent outcomes. Electronic databases, key journals, grey literature sources, reference and citation lists were searched and published authors in the field were contacted; 19 papers describing 15 interventions were included. The findings from this review provide preliminary support for the use of interventions with adoptive parents for improving adopted children's emotional and behavioural outcomes. However, overall, the studies were found to have a high risk of bias, and the significant heterogeneity across the studies limits the conclusions that can be drawn. Further research is required to provide conclusive recommendations regarding the effectiveness of interventions with adoptive parents on the outcomes of adopted children.

Improving social–emotional competence in internationally adopted children with the Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up intervention

“…There are few evidence-based interventions available for young internationally adopted children (Ní Chobhthaigh & Duffy, 2018; Welsh et al, 2007). The only empirically supported intervention of which we are aware is an attachment-oriented therapy that was studied with Dutch adoptive parents and children placed before 6 months of age (Stams, Juffer, van IJzendoorn, & Hoksbergen, 2001).…”

Fast Feet Forward: Early intervention protocol using bilateral movements to reduce stress and increase positive cognitions in adopted children with complex trauma presentation

“…Interventions that have aimed to improve psychological well‐being have predominantly focused on adoptive parents (Ní Chobhthaigh & Duffy, 2019; NICE Guidelines [National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, UK], 2015), or group interventions according to the age of the adoptee, but again these mostly include the role of the adoptive parents, with some age groups advised to join therapeutic play sessions after they have been placed.…”

The impact of a brief neuro-collaborative play-based intervention on the presentations of developmental trauma and attachment difficulties in adopted children: A service evaluation.

“…More broadly, Ní Chobhthaigh and Duffy (2019) and Harris-Waller et al (2018) each executed systematic reviews examining the impact of therapeutic interventions for adoptive parents. Twenty-six unique interventions were examined across the two reviews.…”

“…This service evaluation adds value to current understanding by evaluating the routine effectiveness of a brief, “neuro-collaborative”, Theraplay-based therapeutic intervention which aligns with Ní Chobhthaigh and Duffy’s (2019) characteristics of effective research for adoptive families, with Milot et al’s (2016) trauma-informed clinical guidelines, and advances Perry’s (2009) neurosequential model of therapeutics. This evaluation aims to provide greater awareness and understanding of Theraplay as an available postadoption therapeutic support strategy for practicing clinicians and services.…”