Adoption-related feelings, loss, and curiosity about origins in adopted adolescents.

Adoption involves strong emotions. From the adoptee's point of view, adoption means not only the gain of a new family but also inevitable losses. This study aims at analyzing adoption-related feelings, which include the feelings of loss and the ensuing curiosity about the birth family and pre-adoption life. A total of 81 adopted adolescents, aged 12-22, adopted at 4 years of age, on average, participated in this study. The data were collected using the Questionnaire of Adoption-related Feelings and the Adopted Adolescents Interview, which allowed for the identification of the experiences, feelings, and attitudes of the adopted adolescents regarding their story before and after adoption, and their feelings towards their birth family. The results showed that most participants did not identify adoption-related losses. Nevertheless, they acknowledged the existence of some aspects of their adoption story that made them feel sad and angry and could identify several difficulties associated with their adoptive status. Participants showed low levels of curiosity even if they were mostly curious about the reasons why they had been placed up for adoption. The adoptees' feelings when thinking about their birth parents, the curiosity regarding their past, and their adoption-related losses predicted their feelings related to the adoption experience. Several implications for the psychological practice with adopted adolescents will be presented.

Adopted children’s emotion regulation: The role of parental attitudes and communication about adoption / Regulación emocional en adoptados: el papel de las actitudes parentales y la comunicación sobre adopción

BACKGROUND: Acknowledgement/rejection of adoption related differences and communication about adoption are two of the most important features of adoptive family dynamics. The present study focuses on the role played by these two variables on the adoptees' emotion regulation. METHOD: The adoptive parents of 70 school-aged children participated in the study. RESULTS: Data showed that participant parents perceived their adopted children's emotion regulation as adequate. In relation to family dynamics, acknowledgment of the adoption specificities significantly predicted the emotional lability/negativity of the adoptees, simultaneously mediated by the emotional quality of and the parental satisfaction with the communication about adoption. Furthermore, there was an indirect effect of early adversity on the adopted child's emotional lability. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide new insight into adopted children's emotional development, highlighting the importance of the family environment and pre-adoption experiences

ANTECEDENTES: la aceptación/rechazo de las características específicas de la adopción y la comunicación en torno a la adopción son dos de los rasgos más relevantes de la dinámica familiar adoptiva. En este estudio se analiza la relación entre el ambiente familiar adoptivo (definido en términos de esas dos variables) y la regulación emocional de niñas y niños adoptados. MÉTODO: se estudió a 70 madres o padres de niños adoptados, actualmente en edad escolar. RESULTADOS: los datos indican que los adoptados de esta investigación, según la percepción de sus padres, presentan adecuadas puntuaciones en regulación emocional. Respecto a la dinámica familiar, el reconocimiento de diferencias predice de forma significativa la labilidad/negatividad emocional infantil a través de la mediación simultánea de la calidad emocional de y la satisfacción parental con la comunicación sobre la adopción. Además, se observó un efecto indirecto de la adversidad temprana sobre la labilidad emocional de los adoptados. CONCLUSIONES: los resultados aportan nueva información sobre el desarrollo emocional de los adoptados, destacando la importancia del entorno familiar y de las experiencias pre-adoptivas

Adopted children's emotion regulation: The role of parental attitudes and communication about adoption.

BACKGROUND: Acknowledgement/rejection of adoption related differences and communication about adoption are two of the most important features of  adoptive family dynamics. The present study focuses on the role played by these two variables on the adoptees’ emotion regulation. METHOD: The adoptive parents of 70 school-aged children participated in the study. RESULTS: Data showed that participant parents perceived their adopted children’s emotion regulation as adequate. In relation to family dynamics, acknowledgment of the adoption specificities significantly predicted the emotional lability/negativity of the adoptees, simultaneously mediated by the emotional quality of and the parental satisfaction with the communication about adoption. Furthermore, there was an indirect effect of early adversity on the adopted child’s emotional lability. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide new insight into adopted children’s emotional development, highlighting the importance of the family environment and pre-adoption experiences.

Process of adoption communication openness in adoptive families: adopters' perspective

Abstract Communication about adoption is a family interaction process which is more than the simple exchange of information. Adoption communication can be characterized in terms of the level of openness of family conversations regarding the child's past and the degree of the family's adoption social disclosure. The objective of this study is to explore the process of adoption communication openness in Portuguese adoptive families by identifying the impact of variables related to the adoption process, the adoptive parenting and the adoptee. One hundred twenty five parents of children aged 3 to 15, who were adopted on average 4 years ago, participated in this study. Data was collected during home visits using the Parents Adoption Process Interview. A cluster analysis identified three different groups of families according to the level of adoption communication openness within the family and outside. The findings also showed that the process of the adoption communication openness started when parents decided to adopt, developed in parent-child interaction and was susceptible to change under professional intervention. The relevance of training given to prospective adopters and of professional practice based on scientific evidence is highlighted.(AU)

Propriedades psicométricas da Escala de Percepção do Funcionamento Parental – Mãe e Pai / Psychometric properties of the Parental Functioning Perception Scale – Mother and Father / Propriedades psicométricas de la Escala de Percepción del Funcionamiento Parental – Madre y Padre

Este estudo tem como objetivo validar, em uma população portuguesa jovem, a Escala de Percepção de Funcionamento Parental (EPFP) desenvolvida com base na versão espanhola Estilos Educativos Materno y Paterno. Seiscentos e cinco participantes, equitativamente divididos pelos dois sexos, responderam à EPFP. A estrutura fatorial original composta por seis dimensões foi adaptada, com a remoção de alguns itens, tendo apresentado bons índices de ajustamento (análise fatorial confirmatória) e valores de consistência variando entre α=0,81 e 0,95. Apesar de significativamente correlacionadas, verificaram-se diferenças importantes entre as percepções relativas às dimensões do funcionamento materno e paterno. As mães são consideradas mais afetuosas e comunicativas, promotoras da autonomia, confidentes, bem-humoradas e menos controladoras. A EPFP se revelou um instrumento válido e fidedigno na avaliação do funcionamento parental, através da percepção dos filhos.(AU)

This study aimed to validate the Parental Functioning Perception Scale – Mother and Father (EPFP), as the Portuguese language version of the Spanish scale Estilos Educativos Materno y Paterno (Maternal and Paternal Educational Styles). A sample of 605 college students participated, equally divided by gender, who responded to the EPFP regarding the two parental figures. The original factorial structure (which was composed of six dimensions, adapted, with some items removed), showed good adjustment indexes (confirmatory factor analysis) and acceptable internal consistency values ranging from α=0.81 to 0.95. Despite being significantly correlated, statistically significant differences were found between the perceptions of the dimensions of maternal and paternal parental functioning. Mothers were considered to be more affectionate, communicative, good-humored and trustworthy, while encouraging autonomy, and less controlling than fathers. The EPFP proved to be a valid and reliable instrument in the assessment of the adolescents’ perception of maternal and paternal parental functioning.(AU)

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo validar la Escala de Percepción del Funcionamiento Parental (EPFP) en una populación portuguesa joven, desarrollada a partir de la versión española de Estilos Educativos Materno y Paterno. Participaron en el estudio 605 jóvenes, de los dos sexos, que contestaron a la EFPF para las dos figuras parentales. La estructura factorial original (seis dimensiones) fue adaptada con la retirada de algunos ítems, habiendo presentado buenos índices de ajustamiento (análisis fatorial confirmatória), con apropiados valores de consistencia interna (α=0,81 α=0,95). A pesar de significativamente correlacionadas, se han comprobado diferencias significativas entre las percepciones relativas a las dimensiones del funcionamiento materno y paterno. Las madres fueran consideradas más afectuosas y comunicativas, promotoras de autonomía, confidentes, de buen humor y menos controladoras. La EPFP se mostró un instrumento válido y confiable en la evaluación de la percepción que los adolescentes tienen del funcionamiento parental.(AU)

Propriedades psicométricas da Escala de Percepção do Funcionamento Parental – Mãe e Pai / Psychometric properties of the Parental Functioning Perception Scale – Mother and Father / Propriedades psicométricas de la Escala de Percepción del Funcionamiento Parental – Madre y Padre

Este estudo tem como objetivo validar, em uma população portuguesa jovem, a Escala de Percepção de Funcionamento Parental (EPFP) desenvolvida com base na versão espanhola Estilos Educativos Materno y Paterno. Seiscentos e cinco participantes, equitativamente divididos pelos dois sexos, responderam à EPFP. A estrutura fatorial original composta por seis dimensões foi adaptada, com a remoção de alguns itens, tendo apresentado bons índices de ajustamento (análise fatorial confirmatória) e valores de consistência variando entre α=0,81 e 0,95. Apesar de significativamente correlacionadas, verificaram-se diferenças importantes entre as percepções relativas às dimensões do funcionamento materno e paterno. As mães são consideradas mais afetuosas e comunicativas, promotoras da autonomia, confidentes, bem-humoradas e menos controladoras. A EPFP se revelou um instrumento válido e fidedigno na avaliação do funcionamento parental, através da percepção dos filhos...

This study aimed to validate the Parental Functioning Perception Scale – Mother and Father (EPFP), as the Portuguese language version of the Spanish scale Estilos Educativos Materno y Paterno (Maternal and Paternal Educational Styles). A sample of 605 college students participated, equally divided by gender, who responded to the EPFP regarding the two parental figures. The original factorial structure (which was composed of six dimensions, adapted, with some items removed), showed good adjustment indexes (confirmatory factor analysis) and acceptable internal consistency values ranging from α=0.81 to 0.95. Despite being significantly correlated, statistically significant differences were found between the perceptions of the dimensions of maternal and paternal parental functioning. Mothers were considered to be more affectionate, communicative, good-humored and trustworthy, while encouraging autonomy, and less controlling than fathers. The EPFP proved to be a valid and reliable instrument in the assessment of the adolescents’ perception of maternal and paternal parental functioning...

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo validar la Escala de Percepción del Funcionamiento Parental (EPFP) en una populación portuguesa joven, desarrollada a partir de la versión española de Estilos Educativos Materno y Paterno. Participaron en el estudio 605 jóvenes, de los dos sexos, que contestaron a la EFPF para las dos figuras parentales. La estructura factorial original (seis dimensiones) fue adaptada con la retirada de algunos ítems, habiendo presentado buenos índices de ajustamiento (análisis fatorial confirmatória), con apropiados valores de consistencia interna (α=0,81 α=0,95). A pesar de significativamente correlacionadas, se han comprobado diferencias significativas entre las percepciones relativas a las dimensiones del funcionamiento materno y paterno. Las madres fueran consideradas más afectuosas y comunicativas, promotoras de autonomía, confidentes, de buen humor y menos controladoras. La EPFP se mostró un instrumento válido y confiable en la evaluación de la percepción que los adolescentes tienen del funcionamiento parental...

La calidad del acogimiento residencial en Portugal y el ejemplo de la evolución española / No disponible

Este artículo describe el desarrollo histórico de los hogares para niños y jóvenes en Portugal y lleva a cabo una revisión de las investigaciones actuales sobre el sistema portugués de acogimiento residencial. Se apunta la necesidad de cumplir con criterios de calidad en los servicios prestados a los niños y jóvenes y se analiza el concepto de calidad en este contexto. Confrontando la realidad portuguesa con la española, se destaca el limitado número de trabajos de investigación sobre la calidad de los hogares de acogida portugueses y su adaptación a las necesidades de los niños y jóvenes. Se concluye que el acogimiento residencial de menores en Portugal ha ido evolucionando, y sigue funcionando, sin ningún apoyo real en un programa de evaluación amplio y exhaustivo de la calidad de sus servicios. A continuación, se describe un programa de evaluación de la calidad del acogimiento residencial en Portugal cuya implementación permitiría orientar las decisiones políticas y la definición de las prácticas profesionales que respondan alas necesidades de los niños y los jóvenes en acogimiento (AU)

This article describes the evolution of residential care for children and young people in Portugal and how it developed. Institutional care in Portugal has changed and is still changing, but achieved improvements are not truly based on sound criteria and wide service quality evaluation. In comparison to Spanish reality, a research review in Portugal came to the conclusion that there are no studies onthe quality of extended care or information about how those services suit the real needs of children and young people. This fact underlines the importance and urgency of carrying out a broad study on care quality, allowing the assessment of current status, measuring the suitability of the services provided and the matching of institutional offers with real needs. A nationwide evaluation proposal of the residential care system in Portugal is made based on the assessment of institutionalized children’s needs and of the quality ofthe services provided by institutions. Such a broad study will support national-level policy decisions about structures, methods, mechanisms and resources, contributing to a higher degree of specialization and, ultimately, allowing the comparison of the state of residential care in Portugal with the reality in other countries (AU)