IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v128y2021ics0190740921002395.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Expecting an already born child: Prospective adoptive parents’ expectations in intercountry adoption

Author

Listed:
  • Lasio, Diego
  • Chessa, Silvia
  • Chistolini, Marco
  • Lampis, Jessica
  • Serri, Francesco

Abstract

Prospective adoptive parents need to develop adequate knowledge of adoptive parenthood and adoptable children before child placement. Pre-adoption preparation has been considered a predictor of positive outcomes both for parents and children, while unrealistic expectations towards adoptive parenthood are related to difficulties in facing the adoptive parenting process, especially those that may arise from the child’s emotional, psychological and behavioural problems. Despite the importance of prospective adoptive parents’ expectations for the positive outcomes of adoption, few studies have examined the expectations of couples awaiting adoption. This article investigates the expectations concerning adoptive parenting in a group of 60 Italian prospective adoptive parents who completed an open-ended questionnaire aimed at understanding their expectations regarding adoptable children and their wishes and fears about adoptive parenting. The thematic analysis highlighted prospective adoptive parents’ expectations of more desirable qualities of children and underestimation of the difficulties they may encounter during the adoptees’ adjustment process. The results offer insights to adoption professionals with a view to enhancing the quality of prospective adoptive parents’ preparation before child placement.

Suggested Citation

  • Lasio, Diego & Chessa, Silvia & Chistolini, Marco & Lampis, Jessica & Serri, Francesco, 2021. "Expecting an already born child: Prospective adoptive parents’ expectations in intercountry adoption," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:128:y:2021:i:c:s0190740921002395
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106163
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740921002395
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106163?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bergsund, Hans Bugge & Drozd, Filip & Hansen, Marit Bergum & Jacobsen, Heidi, 2018. "Pre-adoption training: Experiences and recommendations from adoptive parents and course trainers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 282-289.
    2. Schmidt, Dolores M. & Rosenthal, James A. & Bombeck, Beth, 1988. "Parents' views of adoption disruption," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 10(2), pages 119-130.
    3. Reilly, Thom & Platz, Laurie, 2003. "Characteristics and Challenges of Families Who Adopt Children with Special Needs: An Empirical Study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(10), pages 781-803, October.
    4. van den Dries, Linda & Juffer, Femmie & van IJzendoorn, Marinus H. & Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian J., 2009. "Fostering security? A meta-analysis of attachment in adopted children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(3), pages 410-421, March.
    5. Lee, Jaegoo & Vonk, M. Elizabeth & Han, Jisu & Jung, Soyeon, 2018. "A path analysis of a cultural and racial socialization model in international transracial adoption: Racial awareness, self-efficacy, and socialization practices," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 333-340.
    6. Luu, Betty & Wright, Amy Conley & Cashmore, Judith, 2020. "Sibling networks of children adopted from out-of-home care in New South Wales, Australia," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    7. McKay, Katherine & Ross, Lori E., 2010. "The transition to adoptive parenthood: A pilot study of parents adopting in Ontario, Canada," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 604-610, April.
    8. O'Dell, Keely E. & McCall, Robert B. & Groark, Christina J., 2015. "Supporting families throughout the international special needs adoption process," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 161-170.
    9. Frost, Reihonna L. & Goldberg, Abbie E., 2020. "“People said we were nuts … I understand what they were saying now”: An exploration of the transition to parenthood in sibling group adoption," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    10. Anthony, Rebecca & Meakings, Sarah & Doughty, Julie & Ottaway, Heather & Holland, Sally & Shelton, Katherine H., 2016. "Factors affecting adoption in Wales: Predictors of variation in time between entry to care and adoptive placement," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 184-190.
    11. Lee, Bethany R. & Kobulsky, Julia M. & Brodzinsky, David & Barth, Richard P., 2018. "Parent perspectives on adoption preparation: Findings from the Modern Adoptive Families project," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 63-71.
    12. Oldani, Chiara, 2018. "Satisfaction of Italian parents with inter-country adoption: The support of specialised operators," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 49-55.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Goldberg, Abbie E. & Virginia, Haylie & Logan, Maddie & Silvert, Lea & McCormick, Nora, 2023. "“If only we knew…”: An exploratory study of parents of adopted adolescents seeking residential treatment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Bergsund, Hans Bugge & Drozd, Filip & Hansen, Marit Bergum & Jacobsen, Heidi, 2018. "Pre-adoption training: Experiences and recommendations from adoptive parents and course trainers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 282-289.
    2. Miller, Laurie C. & Canzi, Elena & Ranieri, Sonia & Ferrari, Laura & Román, Maite & Cáceres, Isabel & Theie, Steinar & de Montclos, Marie-Odile Pérouse & Rygvold, Anne-Lise & Dalen, Monica & Palacios,, 2022. "Special needs of internationally adopted adolescents in 4 European receiving countries: Relation to mothers’ adoption satisfaction," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    3. Santos-Nunes, Marta & Narciso, Isabel & Vieira-Santos, Salomé & Roberto, Magda Sofia, 2018. "Adoptive parents' evaluation of expectations and children's behavior problems: The mediational role of parenting stress and parental satisfaction," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 11-17.
    4. Rebecca E. Anthony & Amy L. Paine & Katherine H. Shelton, 2019. "Depression and Anxiety Symptoms of British Adoptive Parents: A Prospective Four-Wave Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-14, December.
    5. Santos-Nunes, Marta & Narciso, Isabel & Vieira-Santos, Salomé & Roberto, Magda Sofia, 2017. "Parenting and emotional well-being of adoptive school-aged children: The mediating role of attachment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 390-399.
    6. Neil, Elsbeth & Rimmer, Julia & Sirbu, Irina, 2023. "How do adopted adults see the significance of adoption and being a parent in their life stories? A narrative analysis of 40 life story interviews with male and female adoptees," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    7. Waid, Jeffrey & Alewine, Emily, 2018. "An exploration of family challenges and service needs during the post-adoption period," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 213-220.
    8. Paniagua, Carmen & Moreno, Carmen & Rivera, Francisco & Ramos, Pilar, 2019. "The sources of support and their relation on the global health of adopted and non-adopted adolescents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 228-237.
    9. Brown, Rebecca & Ward, Harriet, 2014. "Cumulative jeopardy: How professional responses to evidence of abuse and neglect further jeopardise children's life chances by being out of kilter with timeframes for early childhood development," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(P3), pages 260-267.
    10. Hajal, Nastassia J. & Paley, Blair & Delja, Jolie R. & Gorospe, Clarissa M. & Mogil, Catherine, 2019. "Promoting family school-readiness for child-welfare involved preschoolers and their caregivers: Case examples," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 181-193.
    11. Miller, Laurie C. & Pinderhughes, Ellen & Pérouse de Montclos, Marie-Odile & Matthews, Jessica & Chomilier, Jacques & Peyre, Janice & Vaugelade, Jacques & Sorge, Frédéric & de Monléon, Jean-Vital & de, 2021. "Feelings and perceptions of French parents of internationally adopted children with special needs (SN): Navigating the triple stigma of foreignness, adoption, and disability," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    12. van Ginkel, Joost R. & Juffer, Femmie & Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian J. & van IJzendoorn, Marinus H., 2018. "Young offenders caught in the act: A population-based cohort study comparing internationally adopted and non-adopted adolescents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 32-41.
    13. Goodwin, Bonni & Madden, Elissa & Singletary, Jon & Scales, T. Laine, 2020. "Adoption workers’ perspectives on adoption adjustment and the honeymoon period," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    14. Ward, Harriet & Brown, Rebecca, 2016. "Cumulative jeopardy when children are at risk of significant harm: A response to Bywaters," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 222-229.
    15. Faver, Catherine A. & Alanis, Erika, 2012. "Fostering empathy through stories: A pilot program for special needs adoptive families," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 660-665.
    16. Tolmacz, Rami & Lev-Ari, Lilac & Bachner-Melman, Rachel & Timor, Meitar, 2024. "Adoptees' basic need satisfaction within romantic relationships: The role of attachment orientations and relational attitudes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    17. Herbster, Julia M. & Ocasio, Kerrie, 2021. "The complex relationship between sibling contact and child and family well-being in foster care: An exploration of child and family functioning in a pre-permanency cohort," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    18. Stephanie Alves & Ana Luz Chorão & Bárbara Caetano & Margarida Rangel Henriques & Isabel Pastor & Raquel Pires, 2022. "Post-Adoption Help-Seeking in Portugal: A Comprehensive Study on Parental Difficulties and Help-Seeking Behaviors and Perceptions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-19, September.
    19. DeLuca Bishop, Haylee K. & Claxton, Shannon E. & van Dulmen, Manfred H.M., 2019. "The romantic relationships of those who have experienced adoption or foster care: A meta-analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 1-1.
    20. Rosenthal, James A. & Groze, Victor & Morgan, Jane, 1996. "Services for families adopting children via public child welfare agencies: Use, helpfulness, and need," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 18(1-2), pages 163-182.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:128:y:2021:i:c:s0190740921002395. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.