Bridging the Divide: Openness in Adoption and Postadoption Psychosocial Adjustment Among Birth and Adoptive Parents

Using 323 matched parties of birth mothers and adoptive parents, this study examined the association between the degree of adoption openness (e.g., contact and knowledge between parties) and birth and adoptive parents' postadoption adjustment shortly after the adoption placement (6 to 9 months)...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of family psychology 2008-08, Vol.22 (4), p.529-540
Main Authors: Ge, Xiaojia, Natsuaki, Misaki N, Martin, David M, Leve, Leslie D, Neiderhiser, Jenae M, Shaw, Daniel S, Villareal, Georgette, Scaramella, Laura, Reid, John B, Reiss, David
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adjustment
Adoption
Adoption (Child)
Adoptive Parents
Biological and medical sciences
Biological Family
Child
Child custody
Couple and family
Fathers - psychology
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Human
Humans
Male
Mothers - psychology
Parent-Child Relations
Parenting
Parents
Parents & parenting
Parents - psychology
Parturition
Personal Satisfaction
Psychological aspects
Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Psychosocial Factors
Social Adjustment
Social psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires
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Summary:Using 323 matched parties of birth mothers and adoptive parents, this study examined the association between the degree of adoption openness (e.g., contact and knowledge between parties) and birth and adoptive parents' postadoption adjustment shortly after the adoption placement (6 to 9 months). Data from birth fathers ( N = 112), an understudied sample, were also explored. Openness was assessed by multiple informants. Results indicated that openness was significantly related to satisfaction with adoption process among adoptive parents and birth mothers. Increased openness was positively associated with birth mothers' postplacement adjustment, as indexed by birth mothers' self-reports and the interviewers' impression of birth mothers' adjustment. Birth fathers' report of openness was associated with their greater satisfaction with the adoption process and better postadoption adjustment.
ISSN:0893-3200
1939-1293
DOI:10.1037/a0012817