Conceived Through Rape/Incest? Adoptive Parents’ Experiences Managing Uncertainty and Disclosure Surrounding their Children's Origins

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-208
Author(s):  
Abbie E. Goldberg ◽  
Melissa H. Manley ◽  
Reihonna L. Frost ◽  
Nora M. McCormick
Keyword(s):  
Adoptive Parents ◽  
Parents Experiences

Lesbian, Gay, and Heterosexual Adoptive Parents’ Experiences with Pediatricians: A Mixed-Methods Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbie E. Goldberg ◽  
Reihonna L. Frost ◽  
Melissa H. Manley ◽  
Nora M. McCormick ◽  
JuliAnna Z. Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Adoptive Parents ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Parents Experiences

scholarly journals “Born Under My Heart”: Adoptive Parents' Use of Metaphors to Make Sense of Their Past, Present, and Future

2021 ◽  
pp. 106648072110273
Author(s):  
Lucas Hackenburg ◽  
Toni Morgan ◽  
Eve Brank
Keyword(s):  
Adoptive Parents ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Future ◽  
Past Experiences ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Parents Experiences

Metaphors provide the opportunity to make sense of our experiences and share them with others. The current research qualitatively examined interviews with adoptive parents who had adopted through intercountry or private adoptions. Throughout their interviews, each participant used at least one metaphor in describing their experiences of adopting and raising their child. Overarchingly, the metaphor of “Adoption is a journey” encapsulated parents’ experiences. To demonstrate the journey, parents used metaphors to describe the past, present, and future. Metaphors of the past focused on their child's trauma and the origin of how the child came to join their family. Metaphors used to describe the present were challenge metaphors, including child's behaviors and finding support, coping metaphors, and balance metaphors. Lastly, metaphors of the future included guiding and commitment metaphors. In addition to metaphors, parents used symbolic rituals to connect their children with their past and current family. From metaphors, we offer several practical implications for postadoption intervention. First, interventions should be developed to meet participants where they are. Second, interventions should focus on the overall picture of adoption, as parents make sense of their past experiences and their ideals about the future. Lastly, services should focus on tools, not fixes.

Adoptive parents’ experiences of dyadic developmental psychotherapy

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 661-679
Author(s):  
Megan Wingfield ◽  
Ben Gurney-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Adoptive Parents ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Foster Families ◽  
The Core ◽  
Qualitative Evidence ◽  
National Guidance ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Parents Experiences

Dyadic developmental psychotherapy (DDP) is an attachment-focused therapy frequently used with adoptive and foster families. While the evidence base for DDP is building, national guidance has called for further trials and qualitative evidence. This study aimed to understand the experience of adoptive parents who have completed DDP therapy. Semi-structured interviews with 12 adoptive parents were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four superordinate themes were identified: (1) increased understanding, (2) ‘It’s a different method of parenting generally’, (3) the DDP journey and (4) ‘It’s a shared kind of experience you go through and come out together’. Parents felt they had increased insight into their child’s mind and how to better support their child. They felt DDP was a good fit to their unique situations and it appeared to promote acceptance. The DDP journey started with parents feeling uncertainty and questioning the effectiveness of DDP. However, generally parents became committed to the therapy once they saw change and expressed fear and sadness at ending. Parents acknowledged the dyadic nature of DDP, feeling it helped build trust and security and supported co-regulation. Parents also acknowledged the therapist’s role in conveying the core DDP principles. Further implications for practice and research are highlighted.

scholarly journals “I’m Doing My Part, I Just Need Help From the Community”: Intervention Implications of Foster and Adoptive Parents’ Experiences Raising Children and Young Adults With FASD

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 314-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christie L. M. Petrenko ◽  
Michelle E. Alto ◽  
Andrea R. Hart ◽  
Sarah M. Freeze ◽  
Lynn L. Cole
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Developmental Psychopathology ◽  
Community Intervention ◽  
Care Service ◽  
Health Care Service ◽  
Adoptive Parents ◽  
Family Needs ◽  
Protective Actions ◽  
Parents Experiences

Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have high rates of health care service utilization. It is vital that health care professionals understand FASD and associated family experiences to strengthen their ability to respond to family needs and tailor family-focused interventions. This study included 24 foster and adoptive parents of children and adults (aged 3-33 years) with FASD. Data were collected via individual interviews and focus groups and analyzed thematically. Consistent with a developmental psychopathology perspective, parents’ experiences interacted with the individual (with FASD), family, and broader systems ecological levels. Parents undertook protective actions in an attempt to prevent secondary conditions, support their child and family, and mitigate systems barriers. They also experienced stressors at each level, and stress was increased by protective actions. The overall parenting experience was fueled by a protective parenting attitude. Findings can strengthen family-focused care practices with individuals with FASD and their families and inform novel family interventions.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document