Abstract
This study examines adoptive adolescents and their relationships with their adoptive parents. The adolescents in this study were adopted from the child welfare system and therefore experienced various stressors throughout their lifetime that are uncommon to other adolescents their age. These stressors include being removed from their biological home, having numerous placements, and possibly being separated from their siblings. Due to these stressors, many adopted adolescents may be left without social supports. This study draws upon previous research, presents a Systematic Research Synthesis (SRS) and builds upon a previous stress-coping model in order to further examine specific variables that affect this population. These variables include personal factors, stressors, and adoptive parent-child relationships. The moderating/buffering effect of social supports is also investigated through an examination of the interaction between three forms of social supports (i.e., family, friends, significant others) and stressors. The analyses that were utilized within this study include t-tests and Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE).
This study examines 335 adopted adolescents and their adoptive parents. It is based on the first wave of a three-year longitudinal study. The data are drawn from two separate surveys that were completed by adoptive parents and adopted adolescents. The present study found that adolescents adopted when older had significantly more behavioral and educational needs than adolescents adopted when younger. Also, support from family and significant others were found to be significant while support from friends was not. Although these social supports were found to be significant, an interaction effect with the stressors was not found to be significant. Finally, the adolescents’ educational and behavioral needs were found to be significant predictors of their relationships with their adoptive parents.
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