The Impact of Adoption on the New Parents' Marriage

Adaptation to Parenthood During the Post-Adoption Period: A Review of the Literature

“…Conversely, when demands outweigh resources, adjustment is likely to become increasingly difficult. Consistent with this theory, research has shown that the transition to parenthood is difficult for many individuals, who often experience negative changes in mental health (Campbell & Cohn, 1991), physical health (Gjerdingen & Center, 2003;Thompson, Roberts, Currie, & Ellwood, 2002), and intimate partner relationship dynamics (Ceballo, Lansford, Abbey, & Stewart, 2004;Cox, Paley, Burchinal, & Payne, 1999;Ward, 1998).…”

Gay, Lesbian, and Heterosexual Adoptive Parents: Couple and Relationship Issues

“…To the best of our knowledge, however, there is no research specifically addressing couple relationship dynamics among gay, lesbian, and heterosexual adoptive parenting couples simultaneously. Some work has examined relationship dynamics of heterosexual adoptive couples (e.g., Borders, Black, & Pasley, 1998;Brodzinsky & Huffman, 1988;Daniluk & Hurtig-Mitchell, 2003;Santona & Zavattini, 2005;Ward, 1998), but not in comparison with gay and lesbian adoptive couples.…”

Intimate relationship challenges in early parenthood among lesbian, gay, and heterosexual couples adopting via the child welfare system.

“…As Ward (1998) notes, “the transition to parenthood, regardless of the route, has common features arising from the addition of a new dependent member to a family system” (p. 58). In turn, because this new member has needs that require adjustments in individual and group interactions, “the pre-existing steady state of the family (including the nature of marital interaction) can no longer be maintained” (p. 60).…”

“…Indeed, the birth or adoption of a child into the family may introduce fluctuating periods of disorganization and stability as members (re)establish their relationships with one another, and create a “new normal” (Timm, Mooradian, & Hock, 2011). For example, the addition of a child into the parental dyad may result in a disruption of intimacy and communication (Claxton & Perry-Jenkins, 2008; Nyostrom & Ohrling, 2004), whereby couples experience a loss of a sense of romance and more of a sense of “partnership” (Ward, 1998). The transition to parenthood may also activate dyadic imbalances within the family, such as enhanced closeness between two members (e.g., one parent and the child) at the exclusion of a third member (e.g., the other parent), which may cause relational conflict (Goldberg, Downing, & Sauck, 2008; Robin & Foster, 2002).…”

“…Such experiences help to explain why these children often manifest behavioral and attachment issues (Nalavany, Glidden, & Ryan, 2009). The placement of children who have difficult histories can place strain on family boundaries and add stress to the family unit (Howard & Berzin, 2011) since they may “bring…unhealthy patterns of interaction from their pasts with them” (Ward, 1998, p. 67). Consistent with this, an older age at placement, an abuse history, and attachment/behavioral difficulties have all been linked to less parenting satisfaction and a higher chance of adoption disruption (Howard & Berzin, 2011).…”