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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Estereótipos e intenção de adotar: explicação baseada nos valores humanos / Stereotypes and intention to adopt: explanation based on human values / Estereotipos y intención de adoptar: explicación basada en valores humanos

Este trabalho objetiva verificar o poder preditivo dos valores humanos na explicação dos estereótipos sobre a criança adotada e da intenção de adotar. Participaram 245 pessoas, sendo a maioria do sexo masculino (59,2%), com idade média de 25,5 anos (DP = 7,10). Estas responderam a Escala de Estereótipos sobre a Criança Adotada, a Escala de Intenção Comportamental de Adotar, o Questionário de Valores Básicos e um questionário sociodemográfico. Os resultados foram consistentes com o modelo teórico adotado. Os valores normativos e de realização atuaram como bons preditores dos estereótipos da criança adotada. Ademais, os valores interativos e de realização foram capazes de predizer a intenção de adotar. Conclui-se que os valores humanos se constituem como uma variável importante na explicação dos estereótipos e na intenção de adotar, possibilitando, assim, a desconstrução de estereótipos negativos e de preconceitos que envolvem a criança adotada, bem como incentivando a prática da adoção

This work aims to check the predictive power of human values in explaining the stereotypes of the adopted child and the intention to adopt. 245 people participated, most of them male (59.2%), with an average age of 25.5 years (SD = 7.10). They answered the Stereotypes of the Adopted Child Scale, the Scale behavioral intention to adopt, the Basic Values Questionnaire and a sociodemographic questionnaire. The results were consistent with the theoretical model adopted. The normative and achievement values served as good predictors of the adopted child's stereotypes. In addition, the interactive and achievement values were able to predict the intention to adopt. It is concluded that human values constitute an important variable in the explanation of stereotypes and the intention to adopt, enabling the deconstruction of negative stereotypes and prejudices involving the adopted child, as well as encouraging the practice of adoption

Este documento tiene como objetivo verificar el poder predictivo de los valores humanos al explicar los estereotipos sobre el niño adoptado y la intención de adoptar. Participaron 245 personas, la mayoría hombres (59,2%), con una edad promedio de 25,5 años (DP = 7,10). Éstas respondieron a la Escala de Estereotipos sobre el Niño Adoptado, la Escala de Intención de Comportamiento para Adoptar, el Cuestionario de Valores Básicos y un cuestionario sociodemográfico. Los resultados fueron consistentes con el modelo teórico adoptado. Además, los valores interactivos y de rendimiento fueron capaces de predecir la intención de adoptar. Se concluye que los valores humanos constituyen una variable importante en la explicación de los estereotipos y en la intención de adoptar, permitiendo así la deconstrucción de estereotipos negativos y prejuicios que involucran al niño adoptado, así como incentiva la práctica de la adopción

Children's behavioral health needs and satisfaction and commitment of foster and adoptive parents: Do trauma-informed services make a difference?

OBJECTIVE: Caring for children in foster or adoptive care with behavioral health needs can severely stress parents, contributing to adverse outcomes for children and families. Trauma-informed services from the child welfare and mental health sectors may help prevent poor outcomes by helping children and parents identify and understand trauma and its impact on children's behavioral health and receive effective treatment. To help understand the role of trauma-informed services for the child welfare population, we examined whether trauma-informed child welfare and mental health services moderated the relationship between children's behavioral health needs and parent satisfaction and commitment. METHOD: The researchers analyzed data from a cross-sectional statewide survey of foster and adoptive parents (n = 512 respondents, 42% of 1,206 contacted) from one state. RESULTS: Foster (but not adoptive) parent ratings of trauma-informed mental health services significantly moderated the relationship between children's behavioral health needs and foster and adoptive parent satisfaction and commitment. As ratings of trauma-informed mental health services increased, the association between child behavioral health needs and parent satisfaction and commitment became nonsignificant, suggesting a buffering effect. Trauma-informed child welfare services did not moderate the relationship for foster or adoptive parents. CONCLUSIONS: Leaders and policymakers are urged to promote trauma-informed mental health services for children involved with child welfare to potentially buffer foster parents against lower parenting satisfaction and commitment. More research is needed to replicate and expand on these findings and to examine the effectiveness of trauma-informed services on other relevant child and family outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Adoptees' Pursuit of Genomic Testing to Fill Gaps in Family Health History and Reduce Healthcare Disparity.

In the symposium of stories by adoptees who have faced health issues without family health history information, genomic testing is considered as a potentially life-saving means for adoptees to obtain family medical information. The authors share feelings of loss, frustration in healthcare settings, fear of unknown genetic susceptibility to disease, desire for knowledge and self-empowerment in medical decision making, and uncertainty about the utility of genomic testing. Adoptees may pursue ancestry testing, genetic genealogy to find biological relatives, and medical genomic testing. They may choose direct-to-consumer testing because of its affordability and accessibility. Adopted persons are gaining support from healthcare professionals in their pursuit of genomic testing. The National Society of Genetic Counselors' position statement regarding genetic testing and adoption "supports consideration of genetic testing, including genome-wide testing, for adopted adults." However, predictive genomic testing of children in the adoption process is not recommended by the NSGC unless testing may affect childhood medical management. The American Society of Human Genetics and the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics similarly recommend that genetic testing of children in the adoption process be limited to diagnostic testing for conditions for which there is timely preventative or therapeutic intervention. Going forward, there is responsibility and opportunity for national genetics and genomics societies and healthcare systems to hone their practice guidelines for genomic testing for adoptees. A successful approach will include evidence-based guidelines for genomic testing, inclusion of genetic counseling before and after testing, and return of genomic test results to adoptees' medical homes.

Longitudinal analyses of adoptive parents' expectations and depressive symptoms.

Grounded in a theoretical model specific to adoptive parents, we examined the relationship between parental expectations and depressive symptoms across time. Assessments of 129 adoptive parents of 64 children were performed at three time points before and after placement of an adopted child with the family: 4-6 weeks pre-placement and 4-6 weeks and 5-6 months post-placement. Expectations were assessed in four dimensions: expectations of self as parents, of the child, of family and friends, and of society. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale. Associations between parental expectations and depressive symptoms were analyzed, and longitudinal multilevel modeling was conducted to explore influences on expectations over time. Parental expectations changed from pre- to post-placement. With the exception of expectations of self as parent, adoptive parents' pre-adoption expectations were affirmed in the post-adoption time periods. In each expectation dimension, higher affirmation of expectations was correlated with decreased depressive symptoms before and after placement of a child. While parental expectations are not unique to adoptive parents, the essence and characteristics of certain expectations are unique to these parents. When working with adoptive parents, nurses who care for families should assess expectations both pre- and post-placement with awareness of their relationship to depressive symptoms.

Adverse childhood experiences among children placed in and adopted from foster care: Evidence from a nationally representative survey.

Despite good reason to believe that children in foster care are disproportionately exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), relatively little research considers exposure to ACEs among this group of vulnerable children. In this article, we use data from the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH), a nationally representative sample of non-institutionalized children ages 0-17 in the United States, to estimate the association between foster care placement and exposure to an array of ACEs. In adjusted logistic regression models, we find that children placed in foster care or adopted from foster care, compared to their counterparts, were more likely to experience parental divorce or separation, parental death, parental incarceration, parental abuse, violence exposure, household member mental illness, and household member substance abuse. These children were also more likely to experience ACEs than children across different thresholds of socioeconomic disadvantage (e.g., children in households with incomes below the poverty line) and across different family structures (e.g., children in single-mother families). These results advance our understanding of how children in foster care, an already vulnerable population, are disproportionately exposed to ACEs. This exposure, given the link between ACEs and health, may have implications for children's health and wellbeing throughout the life course.

"Choosing Life": Birth Mothers on Abortion and Reproductive Choice.

PURPOSE: As the least-chosen option when faced with an unplanned pregnancy, adoption remains largely unexamined as a reproductive choice. Although the anti-abortion movement promotes adoption as its preferred alternative to abortion, little is known of birth mothers' pregnancy decision making and whether adoption was chosen in lieu of abortion. METHODS: I conducted in-depth interviews with 40 women who had placed infants for adoption from 1962 to 2009. Participants were asked about all aspects of their adoption experiences, including their pregnancy decision making and thoughts on abortion. Interview transcripts were analyzed using grounded theory to find unifying themes speaking to reproductive choice. RESULTS: Participants' stories revealed widely varying ideas about abortion. Many were opposed to abortion, but a greater number supported abortion as a reproductive choice, although one they did not choose for themselves. Birth mothers were most often choosing between adoption and parenting, not adoption and abortion. Most participants would have preferred to parent, but did not because of external variables. Mixed experiences with adoption also influenced participants' long-term ideas about reproductive choice. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that the anti-abortion framing of adoption as a preferable alternative to abortion is inconsistent with birth mothers' pregnancy decision-making experiences and their feelings about adoption. Reducing social barriers to both abortion and parenting will ensure that adoption is situated as a true reproductive choice.

Problem behaviors of children adopted from the former soviet union.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to report the results of behavioral assessments collected at three time points of a cohort of children adopted from the former Soviet Union with particular emphasis on the impact of the adoptive family on problem behaviors. PROBLEM: Families adopting from the former USSR are concerned about the influence of pre-adoptive circumstances on their child's future health. METHODS: The study utilized data gathered in 1998 when the children's mean age was close to 8 years, in 2001 when the children were entering early adolescence, and in 2006 when the average age of the children was just over 15 years. The authors hypothesized that the negative impact of risk factors decreases over time, and that a family environment that is stable and supportive is inversely related to problem behaviors. The Child Behavior Checklist, the Family Environment Scale, and a parental report form were used for data collection. FINDINGS: Significant relationships between family environment and problem behaviors over time were found, with lower levels of conflict and higher levels of cohesion associated to lower problem behaviors. Being female does contribute to problem behavior with the passage of time. CONCLUSION: Although the magnitude of these effects was small to moderate, a protective family environment may assist in decreasing problem behaviors.

[Caregiver Stress in Foster and Adoptive Parents of Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders]. / Familiäre Belastungen in Pflege- und Adoptionsfamilien mit Kindern mit fetalem Alkoholsyndrom.

Caregiver Stress in Foster and Adoptive Parents of Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Foster and adoptive parents of 71 children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) report on developmental and behavioral characteristics, family stress, coping resources and their satisfaction with support. The data reveal an elevated rate of social and emotional problems in the children. In spite positive individual and social resources, the foster and adoptive parents feel a high level of caregiver stress. 30 % of them rate the support they receive from pediatric, therapeutic or educational services as lower than expected. Specifically, they miss early information on the diagnosis, professional knowledge and support for the special challenges of education and managing behavioral problems in their collaboration with social support agencies.

Brain signatures of moral sensitivity in adolescents with early social deprivation.

The present study examined neural responses associated with moral sensitivity in adolescents with a background of early social deprivation. Using high-density electroencephalography (hdEEG), brain activity was measured during an intentional inference task, which assesses rapid moral decision-making regarding intentional or unintentional harm to people and objects. We compared the responses to this task in a socially deprived group (DG) with that of a control group (CG). The event-related potentials (ERPs) results showed atypical early and late frontal cortical markers associated with attribution of intentionality during moral decision-making in DG (especially regarding intentional harm to people). The source space of the hdEEG showed reduced activity for DG compared with CG in the right prefrontal cortex, bilaterally in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), and right insula. Moreover, the reduced response in vmPFC for DG was predicted by higher rates of externalizing problems. These findings demonstrate the importance of the social environment in early moral development, supporting a prefrontal maturation model of social deprivation.

Adult birth mothers who made open infant adoption placements after adolescent unplanned pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize birth mothers' descriptions of how their adolescent or young adult unplanned pregnancies and decision for open infant adoption placement influenced their lives. DESIGN: Naturalistic inquiry using unstructured interviews. SETTING & METHODS: One to 2-hour telephone interviews with participants in their home settings were recorded and transcribed. Deidentified transcripts were analyzed for qualitative content themes. PARTICIPANTS: Fifteen women who had experienced unplanned adolescent or young adult pregnancy and relinquished their infants through open adoption were interviewed. Birth mothers who had been members of an agency support group were identified by an agency representative as having been typical of open adoption and were purposively recruited for study participation. RESULTS: Participants described the open adoption decision as "one of the most difficult but best" choices of their lives. Themes were summarized using the acronym AFRESH: A--adoption accomplishments, F--fresh start, R--relationship changes, E--emotions, S--support, H--healing. Findings indicated that benefits of open adoption outweighed challenges of pregnancy, birth, and emotional transitions. Birth children were perceived as thriving with adoptive families who were cherished like extended family. Birth mothers perceived themselves as being better people with better lives than before the unintended pregnancy. Growth with improved life direction was seen as a result of personal maturation from the experience. CONCLUSIONS: Open adoption is reinforced as a positive resolution of adolescent unintended pregnancy. Birth mothers believed teens who feel "stuck" with a pregnancy should consider open adoption; nurses should provide support and uphold the process.

How statewide LGB policies go from ''under our skin'' to ''into our hearts'': fatherhood aspirations and psychological well-being among emerging adult sexual minority men.

Researchers have noted increasingly the public health importance of addressing discriminatory policies towards lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) populations. At present, however, we know little about the mechanisms through which policies affect LGB populations' psychological well-being; in other words, how do policies get under our skin? Using data from a study of sexual minority young men (N = 1,487; M = 20.80 (SD = 1.93); 65% White; 92% gay), we examined whether statewide bans (e.g., same-sex marriage, adoption) moderated the relationship between fatherhood aspirations and psychological well-being. Fatherhood aspirations were associated with lower depressive symptoms and higher self-esteem scores among participants living in states without discriminatory policies. In states with marriage equality bans, fatherhood aspirations were associated with higher depressive symptoms and lower self-esteem scores, respectively. Fatherhood aspirations were associated negatively with self-esteem in states banning same-sex and second parent adoptions, respectively. Our findings underscore the importance of recognizing how anti-equality LGB policies may influence the psychosocial development of sexual minority men.

Promoting the well-being of children whose parents are gay or lesbian.

Extensive data available from more than 30 years of research reveal that children raised by gay and lesbian parents have demonstrated resilience with regard to social, psychological, and sexual health despite economic and legal disparities and social stigma. Many studies have demonstrated that children's well-being is affected much more by their relationships with their parents, their parents' sense of competence and security, and the presence of social and economic support for the family than by the gender or the sexual orientation of their parents. Lack of opportunity for same-gender couples to marry adds to families' stress, which affects the health and welfare of all household members. Because marriage strengthens families and, in so doing, benefits children's development, children should not be deprived of the opportunity for their parents to be married. Paths to parenthood that include assisted reproductive techniques, adoption, and foster parenting should focus on competency of the parents rather than their sexual orientation.

After-birth abortion: why should the baby live?

Abortion is largely accepted even for reasons that do not have anything to do with the fetus' health. By showing that (1) both fetuses and newborns do not have the same moral status as actual persons, (2) the fact that both are potential persons is morally irrelevant and (3) adoption is not always in the best interest of actual people, the authors argue that what we call 'after-birth abortion' (killing a newborn) should be permissible in all the cases where abortion is, including cases where the newborn is not disabled.

The donor-conceived child's "Right to Personal Identity": the public debate on donor anonymity in the United Kingdom.

On 1 April 2005, with the implementation of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (Disclosure of Donor Information) Regulations 2004, United Kingdom law was changed to allow children born through gamete donation to access details identifying the donor. Drawing on trends in adoption law, the decision to abolish donor anonymity was strongly influenced by a discourse that asserted the 'child's right to personal identity'. Through examination of the donor anonymity debate in the public realm, while adopting a social constructionist approach, this article discusses how donor anonymity has been defined as a social problem that requires a regulative response. It focuses on the child's 'right to personal identity' claims, and discusses the genetic essentialism behind these claims. By basing its assumptions on an adoption analogy, United Kingdom law ascribes a social meaning to the genetic relatedness between gamete donors and the offspring.