Parenting concepts and experiences of adults abandoned as infants

Abstract

Parental concepts are crucial in understanding family, relationships and psychological functioning but may vary according to family experience. This study of adults who were abandoned as infants explores three perspectives-their concepts of their biological parents who have abandoned them, their adoptive parents who have raised them and themselves as parents on the birth of their own children. Qualitative interviews with 16 adult survivors of infant abandonment were conducted and thematically analysed. Although some justified and felt forgiveness for their biological mothers, others sustained feelings of anger and resentment. The majority had no views or thoughts on their biological father. Relationships with adoptive parents were mixed-some were supportive and loved yet others were distant and troubled. For those who had children of their own, such births represented the first moment of true biological and genetic continuity and were precious. Others, however, were challenged or avoided parenting. This study is the one of the first steps to understanding the long-term effects of abandoned infants in terms of the parenting they receive and the intergenerational effects on the parenting they provide to the next generation. Such insight should inform parenting preparation for adoptive parents in the case of those abandoned and subsequently adopted as well as support for survivors of infant abandonment when they reach adulthood.

Returns Of Adolescents From Adoptive Families: Problems And Pedagogical Solutions

“…As shown by numerous Russian and international psychological studies, such an emotional and psychological state without the study of the loss leads to personality development anomalies (Schofield, Beek, Ward, & Biggart, 2013;Solomatina, 2017). Adolescents who have lost contact with the family, even the foster family, and who are denying its influence on their personal development, have their identities violated, self-esteem deformed, and unreasonable fears and stresses arise for them.In the long run, children who are placed in foster families and have not received a stable attachment in them cannot connect with their own children or may even refuse to give birth Sherr, Roberts, & Croome, 2019). Instability and multiple placements lead to disruption of parent-child relationships (Koh, Rolock, Cross, & Eblen-Manning, 2014).They begin to distrust adults, try risky behavior, go into social loneliness (Makhnach, 2016;Taylor & Thoburn, 2016).…”