A Systematic Review of Courses, Training, and Interventions for Adoptive Parents

Abstract

Adoption requires thorough preparations prior to the arrival of the child and support post-adoption among parents, to promote a positive parent-child relationship and healthy family functioning. The purpose of our study was, therefore, to systematically review the literature on pre-and post-adoption interventions for caregivers, and determine the possibility for conducting a meta-analysis. We searched 12 electronic databases and identified 7 574 references that were considered for inclusion by two independent raters. Articles meeting the following criteria were retrieved in full-text; studies that examined the effects of (a) a pre-and/or post-adoption intervention, (b) against a comparator (including quasi-experimental studies), and (c) report on outcomes for parents. Finally, we included 10 studies that met our inclusion criteria and which were assessed in terms of reported intervention effects and study quality using Cochrane's Risk of Bias tool. All studies were associated with a high risk of bias in at least one out of seven domains and unclear reporting on several domains. Eight studies examined intervention effects related to interpersonal functioning; three of which found positive effects.In addition, three studies investigated effects on parenting and stress, respectively; however, only one study demonstrated effects on parenting and none on parental stress. Overall, the study designs, interventions, and results were characterized by substantial heterogeneity, making a meta-analysis unfeasible. In conclusion, the results from the included studies in our review does not point in any particular direction. The most consistent finding across studies was the lack of studies on pre-adoption interventions, and poor design and unclear reporting. Consequently, future studies should evaluate pre-adoption interventions, and need to use more rigorous design, transparent and comprehensible reporting, as well as more homogenous interventions and methods, to move the field forward in support of adoptive parents.

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

“…All of the included studies were found to have a high risk of bias. This echoes findings in previous literature (Drozd et al, 2017; Kerr & Cossar, 2014). Due to the lack of randomisation and control groups, the majority of included studies were rated at high risk of selection bias.…”

A meta-analytic review of parenting interventions in foster care and adoption

“…To our knowledge, no meta-analyses regarding parenting interventions for adoptive families have been conducted. However, a systematic review by Drozd, Bergsund, Hammerstrom, Hansen, and Jacobsen (2018) included 21 studies with a pre-/posttest design with at least one control group that examined parent outcomes in adoptive families. Some studies found improvements of interpersonal functioning and parenting, but the majority did not.…”

The key role of positive parenting and children’s temperament in post‐institutionalized children’s socio‐emotional adjustment after adoption placement. A RCT study

“…Among the distal variables, the child's age at adoption and length of institutionalization have been extensively explored with mixed outcomes (Niemann & Weiss, 2012;van den Dries, Juffer, van IJzendoorn, & Bakermans-Kranenburg, 2009), and effects ranging from moderate to trivial (see, e.g., Niemann & Weiss, 2012;O'Connor, Rutter, & English and Romanian Adoptees Study Team, 2000;van den Dries et al, 2009). Considering more proximal variables, robust evidence supports the finding that parental sensitivity in caregiving (commonly named positive parenting), is among the main factors affecting children's socio-emotional enhancement (Barone, Barone, Dellagiulia, & Lionetti, 2018;Drozd, Bergsund, Hammerstrøm, Hansen, & Jacobsen, 2018;Juffer, Bakermans-Kranenburg, & van IJzendoorn, 2005). Interestingly, the evidence that children's positive emotional and behavioral development is fostered by maternal sensitivity has been extensively supported by intervention studies aimed at improving maternal sensitivity and involving children biologically related to their parents.…”