Depression and Anxiety Symptoms of British Adoptive Parents: A Prospective Four-Wave Longitudinal Study

Abstract

The mental health of birth parents has gained attention due to the serious negative consequences for personal, family, and child outcomes, but depression and anxiety in adoptive parents remains under-recognized. Using a prospective, longitudinal design, we investigated anxiety and depression symptoms in 96 British adoptive parents over four time points in the first four years of an adoptive placement. Depression and anxiety symptom scores were relatively stable across time. Growth curve analysis showed that higher child internalizing scores and lower parental sense of competency at five months post-placement were associated with higher initial levels of parental depressive symptoms. Lower parental sense of competency was also associated with higher initial levels of parental anxiety symptoms. Parents of older children and those with higher levels of parental anxiety and sense of competency at five months post-placement had a steeper decrease in depressive symptoms over time. Support for adoptive families primarily focuses on child adjustment. Our findings suggest that professional awareness of parental mental health post-placement may be necessary, and interventions aimed at improving parents’ sense of competency may be beneficial.

The Adopting Together Service: how innovative collaboration is meeting the needs of children in Wales waiting the longest to find a family

“…Moreover, we can assume that a proportion of priority children, through their early life trauma and additional placements needs, will require packages of support beyond those accessed at a universal level (National Adoption Service Framework for Adoption Support, 2019). Meanwhile, high levels of parental warmth have been identified as a factor that can moderate the relationship between adversity and children's early post-placement mental health, highlighting the potential importance of instilling a strong sense of parenting efficacy at an early stage in a placement (Anthony et al, 2019a;2019b). Focusing on early intervention support requires a different level of buy-in by local authorities whereby procurement teams need to be certain that an upfront investment, albeit during a prolonged period of austerity, will deliver better social outcomes for adoptive families.…”

“…The research evidence (e.g. Anthony, Paine and Shelton, 2019a; 2019b; Meakings, et al., 2018; Selwyn, Meakings and Wijedasa, 2015) identifies a need for increased adopter recruitment which not only raises awareness and understanding of the therapeutic needs of ‘priority’ children but also the value of establishing an appropriate approach to adoption which ensures effective early intervention for both the child and adopters. More broadly, research findings have highlighted the psychological and practical support needs of families and identified gaps in the amount and quality of professional support received by parents, including during the early stages of an adoptive placement (Meakings, Coffey and Shelton, 2017; Meakings, et al., 2018; Selwyn, Meakings and Wijedasa, 2015).…”

Adoptive parents’ finances and employment status: a 5-year longitudinal study

“…Also, I'd get more time to recoup and stay fit." Given that adoptive parents experience higher than population levels of anxiety and depression that remain relatively stable across time [30], in addition to ensuring families are aware of available practical support and pathways for seeking support for their child's mental health needs, their own mental health must be supported. We detected associations between family structure and financial and work circumstances.…”

“…Parenting an adopted child with mental health problems is associated with parents’ own reports of distress [ 30 ]. Although many adopters may transition to parenthood with more psychological and physical resources available to them [ 31 , 32 ], adoptive parents experience higher than general population levels of depression and anxiety symptoms [ 30 , 33 ]. Adoptive parents’ concerns include changes in lifestyle, routines, and financial difficulties that are associated with concerns about the future [ 11 , 13 ].…”

Influencing factors and risk prediction modeling of maternal postpartum depression: a cross-sectional study in Chinese puerperal women of sitting the month

“…This analysis indicates that the stress resulting from the changing roles and responsibilities of parenthood can be considered a significant risk factor for PPD ( 16 ). A longitudinal study conducted over a span of 4 years in the United Kingdom unveiled a noteworthy association between reduced parental self-efficacy and depression within a demanding parenting context ( 17 ). Additionally, the categorization of coping styles into positive and negative facets underscores the predictive potential of negative coping strategies for PPD ( 18 ).…”