Having children in cross-border contexts: late-family formation among homoparental families in Spain.

Considered until recently unfit to rear children, non-heterosexual people have been excluded from forming families in most countries. Many, worldwide, demand access to family formation, claiming the same aptitudes as heterosexual people for raising children. However, when non-heterosexual singles and couples want to become parents in Spain, they must consider transnational contexts, resorting to inter-country adoption or surrogacy abroad, processes that contribute to delay their family formation. They must consider not only Spanish sociocultural conditions, but other countries' legal restrictions regarding parents' gender, social status, and sexual identity. These families experience great difficulty in gaining access to reproductive health services. Based on multi-site ethnographic fieldwork, this text addresses how, despite legislative changes allowing homoparental family formation in Spain, these parents must overcome complex bureaucratic processes when they decide to have children, while facing homophobic attitudes and policies in their quests to become parents.

An examination of early socioeconomic status and neighborhood disadvantage as independent predictors of antisocial behavior: A longitudinal adoption study.

The present study examined early socioeconomic status (SES) and neighborhood disadvantage (ND) as independent predictors of antisocial behavior (ASB) and addressed the etiology of the associations (i.e., genes versus the environment) using a longitudinal adoption design. Prospective data from the Colorado Adoption Project (435 adoptees, 598 nonadopted children, 526 biological grandparents of adoptees, 481 adoptive parents, and 617 nonadoptive parents including biological parents of unrelated siblings of adoptees) were examined. SES and ND were assessed during infancy and ASB was evaluated from ages four through 16 using parent and teacher report. Associations between predictors and ASB were compared across adoptive and nonadoptive families and sex. Early SES was a nominally significant, independent predictor of antisocial ASB, such that lower SES predicted higher levels of ASB in nonadoptive families only. ND was not associated with ASB. Associations were consistent across aggression and delinquency, and neither SES nor ND was associated with change in ASB over time. Nominally significant associations did not remain significant after controlling for multiple testing. As such, despite nonsignificant differences in associations across sex or adoptive status, we were unable to make definitive conclusions regarding the genetic versus environmental etiology of or sex differences in the influence of SES and ND on ASB. Despite inconclusive findings, in nonadoptees, results were consistent-in effect size and direction-with previous studies in the literature indicating that lower SES is associated with increased risk for ASB.

Disrupted family reunification: Mental health, race, and state-level factors.

The children's mental health landscape is rapidly changing, and youth with mental health conditions (MHCs) are overrepresented in the child welfare system. Mental health is the largest unmet health need in child welfare, so MHCs may affect the likelihood of system reentry. Concerns regarding mental health contribute to calls for expanded supports, yet systems contact can also generate risk of continued child welfare involvement via surveillance. Still, we know little about how expanded supports at the state-level shape child welfare outcomes. Using the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis Reporting System (AFCARS), we examine the association between MHCs and system reentry within 36 months among youth who reunified with their families in 2016 (N = 41,860). We further examine whether this association varies across states and White, Black, and Latinx racial and ethnic groups via two- and three-way interactions. Results from multilevel models show that, net of individual and state-level factors, MHCs are associated with higher odds of reentry. This relationship is stronger for youth in states that expanded Medicaid by 2016 and with higher Medicaid/CHIP child participation rates. The results also show evidence of the moderating role of state-level factors, specifically student-to-school counselor ratio, diverging across racial and ethnic groups. Our results suggest a need for systems of care to better support youth mental health and counteract potential surveillance.

Event history analysis on racial disparities in the path to adoption for Black and White children.

BACKGROUND: Black children are significantly overrepresented in many phases of the U.S. child welfare system. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate racial disproportionality and disparities in the adoption process and factors that predict the length of time to adoption. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: This study utilized administrative data from the 2014 year of the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) collected in 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. METHODS: The disproportionality metric (DM) and disparity index (DI) were constructed for Black and White children, and event history analyses were conducted to calculate the probability of adoption while considering the time to adoption finalization. RESULTS: DM indicated that Black children (0.81) were underrepresented in adoption, and DI indicated that the likelihood of adoption for Black children (0.73) was one third lower than that for White children. The event history analyses revealed that White children were 1.27 times more likely to be adopted than Black children. White children had considerably fewer days from termination of parental rights to adoption finalization with a median time of 273.5 days compared to 328 days for Black children. Factors that extended adoption time included child intellectual, physical, and emotional/behavioral disabilities, visual and hearing impairments, parental alcohol abuse and disability, and child maltreatment histories, while parental drug abuse and longer stays in out-of-home care shortened the adoption process. We also found a significant interaction effect of race and neglect on adoption. Neglected Black children had a longer time to adoption than neglected White children. CONCLUSIONS: More dedicated outreach programs and resources must be developed to ensure the effectiveness of adoption services and cultural continuity for Black children.

Concept analysis of adoption: A hybrid model.

BACKGROUND: Adoption is a multidimensional concept affected by cultural and social factors. On the other hand, the number of adoptees has recently increased indicating the need to pay more attention to this issue. However, no clear definition of this concept has been provided so far. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze the concept of adoption. METHODS: The present study was an analysis using a hybrid model in three phases. During the theoretical phase, using the keyword "adoption," pertinent articles published between 2010 and 2022 were searched. In the field work phase, eight adoptive parents as the participants were interviewed and the data were analyzed using conventional content analysis method. In the final analysis phase, a general analysis of the two previous phases was performed and a final definition was presented. RESULTS: Adoption is one of the ways of having children that helps infertile couples to experience parental pleasure. If adoption is done wisely based on the abilities of parents, it can provide the best care setting for the child's growth leading to the consolidation of the family and a purposeful life. In adoption, all of the rights and responsibilities of the child are transferred from the biological parents to the adoptive parents, which is affected by religious and cultural beliefs. CONCLUSION: The analysis of the concept of adoption provided a good basis for identifying the various dimensions of adoption and its challenges. The parents need to pay attention to all dimensions of adoption before selecting this path. It also provided a good platform for future research in the field of adoption.

Orphans cannot be after-birth aborted: a response to Bobier.

I offer a response to an objection to my account of the moral difference between fetuses and newborns, an account that seeks to address an analogy between abortion and infanticide, which is based on the apparent equality of moral value of fetuses and newborns.

Racial disparities in pregnancy options counseling and referral in the US South.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to examine racial variation in receipt of counseling and referral for pregnancy options (abortion, adoption, and parenting) following pregnancy confirmation. Equitable offering of such information is a professional and ethical obligation and an opportunity to prevent racial disparities in maternal and child health. DATA SOURCE: Primary data from patients at southern United States publicly funded family planning clinics, October 2018-June 2019. STUDY DESIGN: Patients at 14 clinics completed a survey about their experiences with pregnancy options counseling and referral following a positive pregnancy test. The primary predictor variable was patients' self-reported racial identity. Outcomes included discussion of pregnancy options, referral for those options, and for support services. DATA COLLECTION: Data from eligible patients with non-missing information for key variables (n = 313) were analyzed using descriptive statistics, χ2 tests, and multivariable logistic regression. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Patients were largely Black (58%), uninsured (64%), and 18-29 years of age (80%). Intention to continue pregnancy and receipt of prenatal care referral did not differ significantly among Black as compared to non-Black patients. However, Black patients had a higher likelihood of wanting an abortion or adoption referral and not receiving one (abortion: marginal effect [ME] = 7.68%, p = 0.037; adjusted ME [aME] = 9.02%, p = 0.015; adoption: ME = 7.06%, p = 0.031; aME = 8.42%, p = 0.011). Black patients intending to end their pregnancies had a lower probability of receiving an abortion referral than non-Black patients (ME = -22.37%, p = 0.004; aME = -19.69%, p = 0.023). In the fully adjusted model, Black patients also had a higher probability of wanting access to care resources (including transportation, childcare, and financial support) and not receiving them (aME = 5.38%, p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical interactions surrounding pregnancy confirmation provide critical opportunities to discuss options, coordinate care, and mitigate risk, yet are susceptible to systemic bias. These findings add to limited evidence around pregnancy counseling and referral disparities. Ongoing assessment of pregnancy counseling and referral disparities can provide insight into organizational strengths or the potential to increase structural equity.

Entrega em adoção e demanda de reencontro à justiça: motivações da genitora / Voluntary relinquishment and request to justice for reunion: birth mother's motivations / Entrega en adopción y solicitud de reencuentro a la justicia: motivaciones de la madre biológica

Mudanças legislativas em relação à adoção vêm trazendo importantes repercussões para a compreensão do instituto. Neste artigo, temos como objetivo discutir especificidades da entrega voluntária de uma criança para adoção, no contexto da Justiça, e as motivações de demanda posterior da genitora para a viabilização de um reencontro. Problematizamos a amplitude do direito de acesso às origens, assegurado em lei aos adotados, a partir do entrelaçamento das temáticas entrega e reencontro, procurando compreender essas experiências pela perspectiva da genitora. Este trabalho parte de um caso paradigmático, atendido em uma Vara da Infância, Juventude e Idoso no estado do Rio de Janeiro, que culminou com o contato, mediado pelo Poder Judiciário, entre a adotada e sua genitora, por iniciativa desta. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo, no qual foi realizada uma entrevista semiestruturada com a genitora, quatro anos após o acolhimento de seu pedido à Justiça. Os dados obtidos na entrevista foram analisados por meio do método de análise de conteúdo, em sua vertente categorial, resultando em duas categorias: entrega em adoção e segredos; reencontro: motivações e trajetórias. Constatamos a ausência de publicações brasileiras sobre a temática do reencontro, apontando que o assunto ainda é um tabu. Identificamos que, após o reencontro com a filha, foi possível à genitora uma transformação de si mesma, favorecendo o rompimento do segredo da entrega e de parte de sua história. Assinalamos a necessidade de mais pesquisas, incluindo-se a possibilidade da inserção do Judiciário na mediação dessas demandas.(AU)

Legislative changes related to adoption have brought important repercussions for understanding its regulations. In this article, we aim to discuss the peculiarities of a voluntary relinquishment of a child for adoption, in the context of justice, and the motivations of subsequent demand from the birth mother to set a reunion. We problematize the dimension of the right to access origins, guaranteed by law to adoptees, based on the intertwining of the themes voluntary relinquishment and reunion, seeking to understand these experiences from the perspective of the biological mother. This work is based on a paradigmatic case, attended at a Juvenile Court in the State of Rio de Janeiro, that culminated on the reunion of the adopted and her birth mother, at the initiative of the latter, mediated by the Judiciary. This is a qualitative study, in which we interviewed the biological mother, four years after her legal requirement. The data obtained in the interview were analyzed using the content analysis method, in its categorical aspect, resulting in two categories: voluntary relinquishment in adoption and secrets; reunion: motivations and trajectories. We concluded the absence of Brazilian studies about the theme of reunion, pointing out that the subject still as a taboo. We identified that, after the reunion with the daughter, it was possible for the biological mother to modify herself, favoring the breaking of the secret about the relinquishment and of part of her story. We point out the need of more research, including the possibility of inserting the Judiciary as a mediator for such demands.(AU)

Los cambios legislativos respecto a la adopción han tenido importantes repercusiones en la comprensión de la materia. Este artículo pretende discutir los detalles de la entrega espontánea de un niño para adopción, en el contexto de la Justicia, y las motivaciones de la posterior demanda de la madre biológica para hacer factible un reencuentro. Se problematiza la amplitud del derecho de acceso a los orígenes, garantizado por la ley a los adoptados, a partir del entrelazamiento de los temas entrega y reencuentro, analizando estas experiencias desde la perspectiva de la madre biológica. Este trabajo parte de un caso paradigmático que se llevó a cabo en un Juzgado de la Infancia, Juventud y Persona Mayor del Estado de Río de Janeiro y que culminó en el contacto entre la adoptada y su madre, por iniciativa de esta última, mediado por el Poder Judicial. Este estudio cualitativo realizó una entrevista semiestructurada con la madre biológica cuatro años después de su solicitud a la Justicia. A los datos obtenidos en la entrevista se aplicaron el método de análisis de contenido en su vertiente categórica, en el cual surgieron dos categorías: entrega en adopción y secretos; reencuentro: motivaciones y trayectorias. Se encontró que la falta de estudios brasileños sobre reencuentro apunta a que el concepto del sujeto todavía es un tabú. Se constató que luego del encuentro la madre biológica pasó por una autotransformación, lo que favoreció la ruptura del secreto sobre la entrega y parte de su historia. Es necesario realizar más investigaciones sobre el tema, incluida la posibilidad de insertar al Poder Judicial como mediador de tales demandas.(AU)

Implicações da prática profissional no acolhimento institucional de crianças: perspectiva de cuidadoras / Implications of professional practice in children's institutional sheltering: caregivers' perspective / Implicaciones de la práctica profesional en el alojamiento institucional de niños: perspectiva de cuidadoras

Este estudo qualitativo teve como objetivo compreender, a partir da teoria de bioecológica de desenvolvimento, as implicações da prática profissional no processo de acolhimento de crianças em uma casa-abrigo, na perspectiva de cuidadoras. As participantes foram 10 profissionais de uma casa-abrigo localizada na região sul do Brasil. Utilizou-se a entrevista semiestruturada e a organização e análise dos dados sustentou-se na Grounded Theory, com auxílio do software Atlas.ti 8.4.14. Os resultados evidenciaram uma centralização das ações de acolhimento e atenção em torno dos cuidados físicos das crianças. As ações para promover suporte e cuidados emocionais dentro da casa-abrigo eram delegadas às profissionais da equipe técnica da instituição. Observou-se que as dificuldades encontradas pelas cuidadoras diziam respeito à falta de segurança e preparação para responder e acolher as demandas emocionais das crianças, as quais estão presentes em diversos momentos do processo de acolhimento. Percebeu-se que as práticas institucionais afetaram decisivamente tanto as ações de acolhimento das participantes e o suporte emocional oferecido às crianças na passagem pela casa-abrigo quanto as cuidadoras, no sentido de vivenciarem no trabalho sentimentos de insegurança. Os resultados tensionam ecologicamente a interação nos processos proximais presentes no desenvolvimento humano. Advoga-se pela reflexão sobre as implicações das práticas institucionais de uma casa-abrigo e o desenvolvimento infantil, visando o cuidado integral dos acolhidos.(AU)

Based on the developmental bioecological theory, this study analyzes the implications of professional practice in children's user embracement at a shelter from the caregivers' perspective. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 professionals from a shelter located in southern Brazil. Data organization and analysis was performed based on Grounded Theory using the Atlas.ti 8.4.14 software. Results showed that embracement and attention focus on the physical care of children. Support and emotional care activities were delegated to the institution's technical team. Caregivers faced difficulties regarding the lack of security and preparation to respond to and accept the children's emotional demands, which arise at different moments in the embracement process. The institutional practices decisively affected both user embracement actions and the emotional support offered to the children, as well as the caregivers, in the sense of experiencing feelings of insecurity. These findings ecologically tension the interaction in the proximal processes present in human development. Further reflections on the implications of institutional shelter-based practices for child development are needed to provide comprehensive care.(AU)

Este estudio cualitativo tuvo como objetivo comprender, desde la perspectiva de la teoría bioecológica del desarrollo, las implicaciones de la práctica profesional en el proceso de acogida de niños en una institución infantil desde la perspectiva de las cuidadoras. Las participantes fueron 10 profesionales de una institución de acogida infantil ubicada en la región Sur de Brasil. Se utilizó la entrevista semiestructurada, y para la organización y análisis de datos se aplicó Grounded Theory, con el uso del software Atlas.ti 8.4.14. Los resultados mostraron que las acciones de recepción y atención se centran en el cuidado físico de los niños. Las acciones de promoción de apoyo y cuidado emocional dentro del alojamiento se asignaron a los profesionales del equipo técnico de la institución. Se observó que las dificultades encontradas por las cuidadoras estaban relacionadas con la falta de seguridad y preparación para responder y aceptar las demandas emocionales de los niños, las cuales se encuentran presentes en diferentes momentos del proceso de acogida. Se notó que las prácticas institucionales afectaron decisivamente tanto las acciones de acogida de las participantes como el apoyo emocional que la institución brinda a los niños durante su paso, así como a las cuidadoras en el sentido de experimentar sentimientos de inseguridad en el trabajo. Estos resultados tensan ecológicamente la interacción en los procesos proximales presentes en el desarrollo humano. Se aboga por reflexionar sobre las implicaciones de las prácticas institucionales en los alojamientos institucionales y el desarrollo infantil, apuntando a la atención integral de los acogidos.(AU)

Does birth matter?

This paper is a response to a recent paper by Bobier and Omelianchuk in which they argue that the critics of Giubilini and Minerva's defence of infanticide fail to adequately justify a moral difference at birth. They argue that such arguments would lead to an intuitively less plausible position: that late-term abortions are permissible, thus creating a dilemma for those who seek to argue that birth matters. I argue that the only way to resolve this dilemma, is to bite the naturalist bullet and accept that the intuitively plausible idea that birth constitutes a morally relevant event is simply mistaken and biologically misinformed.

Adopted individuals' interest in elective genomic testing.

PURPOSE: Adoptees are a population that could benefit from genetic testing to fill gaps in family health history (FHH). Elective genomic testing (EGT) provides adoptees with clinical genetic testing options to learn about genetic health risks in the absence of FHH. We assessed adoptees' interests in, motivations for and perceived utility of EGT. METHODS: Adult adoptees and non-adoptees completed an anonymous, online survey regarding their interest and motivations for EGT, perceived utility of potential results and willingness to pay for EGT. A validated measure of social identity was included to measure the effects of social identity on testing interest. RESULTS: There were 112 adoptees and 229 non-adoptees included in the study. Adoptees reported greater interest in EGT (OR 5.0, 95% CI 2.2 to 11.3) than non-adoptees. They were motivated by curiosity and a desire to learn information about risks to children and grandchildren more than non-adoptees. Adoptees with higher education and non-adoptees with higher incomes were significantly more likely to spend more on EGT. Adoptees with higher incomes and non-adoptees with higher education were not significantly more likely to spend more. Social identity was a significant mediator between adoption and testing motivation. CONCLUSION: Understanding adoptees' unique motivations and interests in EGT will allow healthcare providers to better address the informational needs and desires of this population. Social identity provides a foundation for recognising adoptees' universal experiences that influence motivations for genetic testing.

Heritability × SES Interaction for IQ: Is it Present in US Adoption Studies?

An interaction between socioeconomic status (SES) and the heritability of IQ, such that the heritability of IQ increases with higher SES, has been reported in some US twin studies, although not in others, and has generally been absent in studies outside the US (England, Europe, Australia). Is such an interaction present in US adoption studies? Data from two such studies, the Texas and the Colorado Adoption Projects, were examined, involving 238-469 adopted children given IQ tests at various ages. A mini multi-level analysis was made of the prediction of the IQs by the SES of the rearing home (a composite of parental education and occupation), by the birth mother's intelligence, and by the interaction of the two. Neither study showed any substantial heritability × SES interaction: the effect size estimates in units comparable to twin moderation models were negative (- 0.042 and - 0.004), and the meta-analytic estimate for the combined analysis was - 0.27 (SE = 0.042) with a 95% confidence interval of - 0.109 to 0.054. Thus, while we cannot rule out positive moderation based on our two studies, the joint agreement across these studies, and with the non-US twin studies, warrants attention in further research. SES may not fully capture proximal familial-environmental aspects that moderate child IQ.

The Long Road to Parenthood: Assisted Reproduction, Surrogacy, and Adoption Among US Surgeons.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to characterize demographics, costs, and workplace support for surgeons using assisted reproductive technology (ART), adoption, and surrogacy to build their families. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: As the surgical workforce diversifies, the needs of surgeons building a family are changing. ART, adoption, and surrogacy may be used with greater frequency among female surgeons who delay childbearing and surgeons in same-sex relationships. Little is known about costs and workplace support for these endeavors. METHODS: An electronic survey was distributed to surgeons through surgical societies and social media. Rates of ART use were compared between partners of male surgeons and female surgeons and multivariate analysis used to assess risk factors. Surgeons using ART, adoption, or surrogacy were asked to describe costs and time off work to pursue these options. RESULTS: Eight hundred and fifty-nine surgeons participated. Compared to male surgeons, female surgeons were more likely to report delaying children due to surgical training (64.9% vs. 43.5%, P < 0.001), have fewer children (1.9 vs. 2.4, p < 0.001), and use ART (25.2% vs. 17.4%, P = 0.035). Compared to non-surgeon partners of male surgeons, female surgeons were older at first pregnancy (33 vs 31 years, P < 0.001) with age > 35 years associated with greater odds of ART use (odds ratio 3.90; 95% confidence interval 2.74-5.55, P < 0.001). One-third of surgeons using ART spent >$40,000; most took minimal time off work for treatments. Forty-five percent of same-sex couples used adoption or surrogacy. 60% of surgeons using adoption or surrogacy spent >$40,000 and most took minimal paid parental leave. CONCLUSIONS: ART, adoption, or surrogacy is costly and lacks strong workplace support in surgery, disproportionately impacting women and same-sex couples. Equitable and inclusive environments supporting all routes to parenthood ensure recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce. Surgical leaders must enact policies and practices to normalize childbearing as part of an early surgical career, including financial support and equitable parental leave for a growing group of surgeons pursuing ART, surrogacy, or adoption to become parents.

Racial Identity and Transcultural Adoption.

Transracial/transcultural adoption is defined as a child of one race or ethnic group placed with parent(s) of a different race or ethnic group. An estimated 2 million children in the United States were identified as adopted in the 2010 census, and approximately one-fourth of these were transracial adoptions. Both a history of adoption and a strong ethnic or racial identity are specifically associated with health-related risk and protective factors for psychosocial, academic, and health behavior outcomes. A patient with a history of transracial adoption presents unique and important considerations for culturally responsive nursing care. This article begins with nursing practice considerations for transracially adoptive patients and provides an overview of epidemiology; relevant trauma informed nursing care;. laws and racial identity formation, and a mental model of health disparities to guide future directions. We synthesize information relevant to nursing care of individuals who are transracially adopted and racial/ethnic identity formation, including socialization and a merging model to conceptualize identities. The article also discusses principles of trauma informed care and health disparities and future improvements in the context of this population.

Addressing Provider Shortages in Rural America: The Role of State Opt-Out Policy Adoptions in Promoting Hospital Anesthesia Provision.

BACKGROUND: Shortages of anesthesia providers in rural areas have long resulted in access limitations in many US states. This situation prompted federal legislation designed to promote increased usage of certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) in hospitals. Starting in 2001, state governors were afforded the option to adopt "opt-out" provisions, giving facilities in their states flexibility in utilizing CRNAs; specifically, adopting the opt-out policy removes physician oversight requirements for Medicare billing purposes. METHODS: We used mixed effects generalized linear models to identify predictors of CRNA service provision in hospitals from 2011-2015. RESULTS: We found that being located in an opt-out state does not result in increased odds of CRNA service provision in US hospitals. Higher levels of deprivation in counties, being located in rural geographic areas, and being a teaching hospital all influenced CRNA service provision. CONCLUSIONS: Given that we found no evidence that being in an opt-out state increases the odds of using CRNAs in hospitals, we contribute to the growing literature suggesting that states adopting the opt-out policy have not realized increased health care access or reduced health care costs. As a result of other contextual restrictions on hospitals' decision-making, simply adopting the opt-out policy has not been enough to address anesthesia provider shortages.

Os aspectos psicológicos da criança e do adolescente na adoção tardia / Psychological features of late-adopted children and adolescents / Los aspectos psicológicos del niño y del adolescente en la adopción tardía

Em razão do número significativo de crianças maiores e adolescentes disponíveis para o processo de adoção no Cadastro Nacional de Adoção, e de a idade representar um fator de restrição e obstáculo para os pretendentes à adoção, torna-se necessário desmistificar as crenças enraizadas sobre adoção tardia. Pensando nessas questões, o presente estudo objetiva compreender os aspectos psicológicos e comportamentais das crianças e dos pais por adoção, comumente presentes no período de adaptação e convivência pós-adotiva, e analisar as atitudes dos pais diante dos obstáculos, observando a eficácia da preparação necessária aos pretendentes à adoção. Para tanto, a metodologia adotada consistiu inicialmente em embasar teoricamente a adoção tardia e suas fases de adaptação, com fundamentação psicanalítica, para a compreensão abrangente do assunto, e em uma pesquisa de campo com dois casais, pais por adoção que se encontravam no período de convivência de seis meses a um ano, para coletar dados relevantes e os correlacionar com a teoria. Por meio dos resultados obtidos, foram apontados os estágios de convivência e os aspectos psicológicos envolvidos nesse processo, bem como a importância de os pretendentes à adoção se instrumentalizarem com informações e se prepararem para a filiação afetiva. Assim, mesmo com todas as dificuldades que possam surgir no processo de adaptação na adoção tardia, em virtude de fatores como idade, preconceitos, mitos e histórico prévio de vida da criança, conclui-se que o afeto e a adoção recíproca prevalecem a qualquer desafio e que, se a experiência da adoção tardia for bem orientada, pode apresentar excelentes resultados.(AU)

Before the significant number of older children and adolescents available for adoption in the National Adoption Register, and considering age as both a restriction factor and an obstacle, rooted beliefs concerning late adoption must be demystified. In this scenario, this study aimed to understand the psychological and behavioral features of children and their adopting parents during the adjustment period soon after adoption, besides analyzing parents' attitudes toward obstacles in light of the necessary preparation on the part of couples intending to adopt. Based on psychoanalytical principles, this study first sets the theoretical foundations of late adoption and its adjustment phases to reach a comprehensive understanding of the issue. To collect data and relate them to the underlying theory, a field research was conducted with two adopting couples in the adjustment period, which ranges from six months to a year. The results indicate the adjustment phases and psychological features underlying this process, besides stressing the importance of parents who intend to adopt for searching for information on the issue and preparing themselves for an affective adoption. Despite the difficulties in late-adoption adaptation - due to age, prejudices, myths, and the previous lives of children, - affection and mutual adoption can overcome any challenges that may arise. Moreover, if the late adoption process is adequately guided, it may present excellent results.(AU)

Debido al número significativo de niños mayores y adolescentes disponibles para el proceso de adopción en el Catastro Nacional de Adopción, y siendo la edad un factor de restricción y obstáculo para los adoptantes, es necesario desmitificar las creencias en relación a la adopción tardía. En este sentido, el presente trabajo tiene por objeto comprender los aspectos psicológicos y comportamentales de los niños y de los padres por adopción, comúnmente presentes en el período de adaptación y convivencia postadoptiva, así como analizar las actitudes de los padres ante a los obstáculos, observando la eficacia de la preparación necesaria para los aspirantes a adopción. Para ello, la metodología adoptada consistió inicialmente en basar teóricamente la adopción tardía y sus fases de adaptación, con fundamentación psicoanalítica, para una comprensión más amplia del asunto, y una investigación de campo con dos parejas, que son padres por adopción entre seis meses a un año, para recoger datos relevantes y correlacionarlos con la teoría. Los resultados apuntan las etapas de convivencia y los aspectos psicológicos que involucran este proceso, así como la importancia de los aspirantes a adopción para conseguir informaciones y prepararse para la filiación afectiva. Incluso con todas las dificultades que puedan surgir en el proceso de adaptación en la adopción tardía, en virtud de la edad, de los prejuicios, mitos y por el histórico previo de vida que el niño carga, se concluye que el afecto y la adopción recíproca prevalecen ante cualquier desafío y que si bien orientada la experiencia de la adopción tardía se puede presentar excelentes resultados.(AU)

Cortisol and Parenting Predict Pathways to Disinhibited Social Engagement and Social Functioning in Previously Institutionalized Children.

Previously institutionalized children on average show persistent deficits in physiological and behavioral regulation, as well as a lack of normative reticence towards strangers, or disinhibited social engagement (DSE). Post-adoption parenting, specifically a combination of supportive presence and structure/limit-setting, may protect against DSE over time via better adrenocortical functioning. This study examined the impact of adrenocortical activity and post-adoption parenting on DSE across the first two years post-adoption (age at adoption: 16-36 months) and observed kindergarten social outcomes in previously institutionalized children (n = 94) compared to non-adopted children (n = 52). Path analyses indicated a developmental cascade from institutional care (operationalized as a dichotomous group variable, age at adoption, and months of institutionalization) to blunted adrenocortical activity, increased DSE, and lower kindergarten social competence. Consistent with a permissive parenting style, higher parental support was associated with increased DSE, but only when not accompanied by effective structure/limit-setting. Further, parental structure reduced the association between blunted adrenocortical activity and DSE behaviors.

Addressing perceived economic obstacles to genetic testing as a way to mitigate disparities in family health history for adoptees.

In this paper, we ask whether or not we can afford to realize the potential benefits of genetic testing as a screening tool for adoptees. Our method is to provide reasonable cost and savings estimates. We argue that the prospect of cost neutrality should be sufficient to explore the targeted screening for a population who will otherwise suffer an avoidable health disparity in access to inherited disease information. Our goal here is to establish that the investment needed to attain these benefits is not beyond our means.

Adoptive gay fathers' sensitivity and child attachment and behavior problems.

Fathers' sensitivity and child attachment security and externalizing and internalizing problems were investigated among families headed by two adoptive gay fathers. A sample of 68 fathers and their 34 children aged 1-6 years participated in the study. Fathers completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Child Behavior Checklist. Parental sensitivity and child attachment security were assessed by independent coders with Q-sort methodology during parent-child interactions at home. Results indicate that few children had low attachment security scores and behavior problems in the clinical range. Fathers' sensitivity within parenting couples appeared similarly high, as did children's attachment security. In contrast to the weak association found in past studies among heterosexual fathers, a significant moderate correlation was found between paternal sensitivity and child attachment security. Also, children with higher levels of attachment security had less externalizing problems.