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Adoptees' basic need satisfaction within romantic relationships: The role of attachment orientations and relational attitudes

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  • Tolmacz, Rami
  • Lev-Ari, Lilac
  • Bachner-Melman, Rachel
  • Timor, Meitar

Abstract

Little is known about the challenges adoptees face in their romantic relationships. This study examines the association between adoption and three relational attitudes in romantic relationships: authenticity, pathological concern, and sense of entitlement, with a possible role for attachment style. 268 participants aged 18–60 (18.8% males, 59.3% adopted) completed online questionnaires assessing attachment dimensions and the following variables in the context of romantic relationships: sense of entitlement, pathological concern, authenticity, and basic needs satisfaction. Adoptees reported higher levels of attachment avoidance, relational entitlement, pathological concern and lower authenticity and need satisfaction within the context of their romantic relationships than non-adoptees. The association between adoption status and basic need satisfaction in romantic relationships was partially explained by avoidant attachment, relational entitlement and authenticity in relationships. Findings strengthen the claim that relational challenges associated with being adopted at a young age continue into adulthood. The dissatisfaction that adoptees tend to feel in romantic relationships appears to be driven by avoidant attachment orientation and related problematic relational attitudes (inflated and restricted sense of relational entitlement, lack of relational authenticity), rather than by adoption status per se. Longitudinal designs should be designed to further our understanding of the cause-and-effect relationships between the variables in our study.

Suggested Citation

  • 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).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:161:y:2024:i:c:s0190740924002123
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107640
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. 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.
    2. Hjern, Anders & Palacios, Jesús & Despax, Johanna & Vinnerljung, Bo, 2023. "Couple partnership and divorce in domestic and non-European international adoptees. A Swedish national cohort study with follow up until 36 to 45 years," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    3. 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.
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