Exploring Core Issues in Adoption: Individual and Marital Experience of Adoptive Mothers

Timm, Tina M.; Mooradian, John K.; Hock, Robert

doi:10.1080/10926755.2011.628264

Cited by 16 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…The current exploratory study adds to the limited research on same-gender parents' relationship dissolution (Gartrell et al 2006;Turtletaub 2002), and relationship functioning and challenges in adoptive parents specifically (Timm et al 2011). We used a feminist, social constructionist lens to analyze the data, attending to the role of social locations and power dynamics in understanding women's attributions of the causes of their relationship dissolution, as well as attending to the reality that social discourses surrounding divorce (i.e., it is indicative of "failure") may shape their constructions of relationship dissolution (Walzer and Oles 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Notably, four of these six individuals identified their children's special needs (emotional, behavioral, and developmental) as exacerbating the stresses of new parenthood, and causing strain to their relationship (Timm et al 2011). These parents described their lives as becoming "consumed" by the stresses of parenting high-needs children, leaving them with little time or emotion for anything or anyone else.…”

Section: Parentingmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Becoming a parent via adoption may introduce additional challenges (e.g., difficult child characteristics) that can impact the couple's relationship . Couples who adopt children who are older, have an abuse history, or have attachment problems are at greater risk for parenting dissatisfaction and disruption of the adoptive placement (Howard and Berzin 2011;Timm et al 2011). Such strains can place stress on the couple's relationship, leading to weak communication .…”

Section: Adoption As An Additional Stressor To Relationship Qualitymentioning

confidence: 97%

“…She concluded that her daughter's violent behaviors, which she felt insufficiently prepared for, "led to the disintegration of the marriage." These women's adoptive status, then, significantly impacted their transition to parenthood, such that they were exposed to unique and unexpected stressors that ultimately strained their relationships (Timm et al 2011). …”

Section: Parentingmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Such strains can place stress on the couple's relationship, leading to weak communication . A study of married heterosexual women who adopted via child welfare found that dealing with disappointment regarding their children (who were often older and/or had behavioral issues) or their roles as parents, was described as especially wearing on their marriages (Timm et al 2011). …”

Section: Adoption As An Additional Stressor To Relationship Qualitymentioning

confidence: 98%

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Lesbian and Heterosexual Adoptive Mothers’ Experiences of Relationship Dissolution

et al. 2014

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Little research has explored same-gender couples' experiences of relationship dissolution, and no research has explored relationship dissolution in same-gender adoptive parents. Drawing from feminist and social constructionist perspectives, the current qualitative study examined the perspectives of 13 adoptive mothers (seven lesbian, six heterosexual) who had separated from their partners over the course of a longitudinal study on adoptive families. Participants were interviewed via telephone and represented a geographically diverse sample of mothers in the U.S. Becoming a parent (to a high-needs child in particular), differences in parenting style, parent problems (e.g., substance abuse), and infidelity were perceived as contributing to relationship dissolution by all types of participants. Lesbian mothers were especially likely to emphasize problems with emotional and sexual intimacy, and inequities in the division of labor, as contributors. Lesbian mothers were more likely to describe shared custody arrangements than heterosexual mothers, who were typically the primary residential parents. Participants described both practical challenges (e.g., financial insecurity) and emotional challenges (e.g., feelings of guilt, especially in light of the child's history of loss) in the wake of relationship dissolution. However, participants also identified positive changes that had occurred post-dissolution, including personal growth and improved co-parenting, with the latter being noted by lesbians in particular. Findings have implications for professionals wishing to support diverse families during key life transitions, such as parental relationship dissolution.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Parentingmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Adoption As An Additional Stressor To Relationship Qualitymentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Parentingmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Adoption As An Additional Stressor To Relationship Qualitymentioning

confidence: 98%

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Lesbian and Heterosexual Adoptive Mothers’ Experiences of Relationship Dissolution

et al. 2014

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

Paine

Fahey

Thompson

et al. 2022

Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry

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We investigated risk and facilitating factors related to families’ change in finances and employment over 5 years following adoption of a child from local authority care in a prospective, longitudinal study of children placed for adoption between 2014 and 2015 (N = 96). Parents completed questionnaires at approximately 5, 21, 36, 48 and 60 months post-placement. We used time series analysis to examine the impact of child (e.g. pre-placement experiences, mental health), family structure (e.g. number of siblings, parent relationship status), and parent (e.g. mental health) factors on change in household income and parent employment status after adoption. We also examined the tendency for parents to comment on employment and finances and the emotional valence of their comments to gauge their concern about their circumstances. Children’s mental health problems were associated with primary caregivers reducing their time spent in employment and parents’ tendency to comment on their financial and work circumstances. Children who experienced more moves in care were more likely to have a primary caregiver not in full-time work, as were children with higher prosocial behaviour scores. Being in full-time work was associated with parents’ symptoms of anxiety. We also detected associations between structural features of the family and changes in income and employment. This study represents one of the first empirical investigations of factors associated with the socioeconomic features of adoptive families’ lives and informs ongoing discussion regarding the support needs of families and the timing, nature, and delivery of post-adoption professional services.

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