Adoptive Family Adjustment and Its Relation to Perceived Family Environment

Martin, Betty; Kelly, Mary Margaret; Towner-Thyrum, Elizabeth

doi:10.1300/j145v03n01_04

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…However, it has also been suggested that the construct of open communication about adoption should be refined (Gair, 1998;Kaye, 1990;Martin, Kelly, & Towner-Thyrum, 1999). An open style of communication that highlights and insists on differences between adoptive and non-adoptive families may actually be indicative of family problems (Kaye, 1990).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Predictors of Psychological Functioning and Adoption Experience in Adults Searching for Their Birthparents

Miiller¹,

Gibbs²,

Ariely³

2002

Adoption Quarterly

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Predictors of Psychological Functioning and Adoption Experience in Adults Searching for Their Birthparents

Miiller¹,

Gibbs²,

Ariely³

2002

Adoption Quarterly

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“…Adolescent reports of family functioning did not differ among those who were preoccupied with the adoption and those who were not (Kohler, Grotevant, & McRoy, 2002). Reports from college-age adoptees indicated that their satisfaction with the adoption was correlated moderately with family expressiveness, cohesion, active recreational involvement, little conflict, and strong moral/religious focus (Martin, Kelly, & Towner-Thyrum, 1999). When comparing adoptees in Israel, the international adoptees rated their parents as slightly more supportive and controlling than domestic adoptees (Levy-Shiff et al, 1997).…”

Section: Research Focusing On Adoptive Familiesmentioning

confidence: 84%

Understanding Adoptive Families

O’Brien

Zamostny

2003

The Counseling Psychologist

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Contrary to societal stereotypes about adoption, this integrative review of published empirical research on adoptive families noted several positive and few negative out-comes with regard to satisfaction with the adoption, familial functioning, and parent-child communication. The critical analysis of 38 studies on adoptive families revealed a prevalence of descriptive passive research designs with concomitant concerns regarding sampling and generalizability. However, despite their limitations, the studies form the foundation for future research that, if replicated, provide support for viewing most adoptive families as resilient. To contribute to the empirical literature on adoption, counseling psychologists should base research in theory, study societal and cultural factors affecting adoptive families, improve methodology, and focus on resiliency and successful out-comes for adoptive families.

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“…Literature on adoptive families in general echoes the contributing role of family functioning on adoptees' psychological adjustment (Crea et al, 2014; Ji et al, 2010; Martin et al, 1999). For example, Ji et al (2010) found a positive relationship between family sense of coherence and adoptees' psychosocial adjustment, in addition to establishing family sense of coherence as protective against the harmful impact of child maltreatment on adoptees.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Family functioning and racial socialization in transracial adoptive families

2022

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This study of transracially adopted adolescents and their White parents examines family cohesion and expressiveness as predictors of parents' engagement in cultural socialization and preparation for bias. It also examines differences in adolescent and parent views of the level of cohesion and expressiveness in their family. Background: Given the importance of both cultural socialization and preparation for bias on promoting the well-being of adoptees, it is of value to examine why some White parents engage in these behaviors more frequently than others. Family functioning sets the tone for subsequent interactions and may be an important contributor to parents' racial socialization efforts. Method: Seventy-two transracially adopted parent-adolescent dyads completed an online survey. Results: Generally, parents and adolescents reported high cohesion and moderate expressiveness, although transracially adopted adolescents tended to view their family more negatively than their parents. Parents who viewed their family as more cohesive and expressive were more likely to engage in cultural socialization. Those who viewed their family as more expressive were more likely to talk to their child about race and prepare them for discrimination. Contrary to expectation, when adolescents viewed their family as less expressive, their parents were more likely to engage in preparation for bias. Conclusion and Implications:The importance of including multiple family members' perspectives to more fully understand transracial adoptive families and the need for White parents to engage in quality, not just frequent, racial socialization are discussed.

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Adoptive Family Adjustment and Its Relation to Perceived Family Environment

Cited by 8 publications

References 4 publications

Predictors of Psychological Functioning and Adoption Experience in Adults Searching for Their Birthparents

Predictors of Psychological Functioning and Adoption Experience in Adults Searching for Their Birthparents

Understanding Adoptive Families

Family functioning and racial socialization in transracial adoptive families

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