Understanding Adoptive Families

An Integrative Review of Empirical Research and Future Directions for Counseling Psychology

Datos Bibliográficos

ID8913489
AutoresKaren M O’brien (0000-0002-0927-2489, University of Maryland, College Park, autor de correspondencia), Karen M O'Brien (University of Maryland,), Kathy P Zamostny (University of Maryland)
Año2003
Volumen31
Número6
Páginas679-710
Fecha de publicación2003-10-16
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaThe Counseling Psychologist (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0011-0000 • E-ISSN: 1552-3861
EditorialSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0011000003258086
OpenAlexW2119495892
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas17
Referencias citadas46

Contrary to societal stereotypes about adoption, this integrative review of published empirical research on adoptive families noted several positive and few negative out-comes with regard to satisfaction with the adoption, familial functioning, and parent-child communication. The critical analysis of 38 studies on adoptive families revealed a prevalence of descriptive passive research designs with concomitant concerns regarding sampling and generalizability. However, despite their limitations, the studies form the foundation for future research that, if replicated, provide support for viewing most adoptive families as resilient. To contribute to the empirical literature on adoption, counseling psychologists should base research in theory, study societal and cultural factors affecting adoptive families, improve methodology, and focus on resiliency and successful out-comes for adoptive families

Developmental psychology · Empirical research · Epistemology · Generalizability theory · Child Welfare and Adoption · Family and Disability Support Research · Family Support in Illness · Psychology · Social Psychology