A study of how the attachment process develops between parents and their adult adopted children through the eyes of adult adoptees and their adoptive parents

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore how the attachment process develops between adopted children and their adoptive parents from the perspectives of adult adoptees and their adoptive parents. A qualitative research design was used in order to identify which factors adoptive families felt facilitated as well as impeded the development of their own attachments. In depth interviews were conducted with five adoptive families to gain a better understanding of their experiences, in which parents and children were interviewed separately. The results showed that all the families had positive attachment journeys which were characterised by more enhancing factors than hindering ones. The factors that helped were happy childhood memories, the fact that parents creating safety within the family, how the parents dealt with the child's separation issues, openness about adoption, no distinction made between adopted and biological children which resulted in a close parent-child relationship. The hindering factors were fear due to a lack of information and the absence of the father in the early years. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.