Communicative Openness Within Adoptive Families

Adoptive Parents' Narrative Accounts of the Challenges of Adoption Talk and the Approaches Used to Manage These Challenges

Bibliographic Data

ID12460282
AuthorsChris Jones (0000-0002-5044-1336, Durham University, corresponding author), Simon Hackett (0000-0002-3275-9324, Durham University)
Year2007
Volume10
Issue3-4
Pages157-178
Publication date2007-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAdoption Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1092-6755 • E-ISSN: 1544-452X
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10926750802163238
OpenAlexW1977043442
LanguageEN
Citations received34
References cited15

Policy and practice relating to openness in adoption have changed substantially in the last 30 years. There is a growing body of empirical research that supports both structural and communicative openness, and there is widespread consensus that communicative openness is desirable within adoptive families. Despite this, there is evidence that some adoptive parents and their adopted children struggle to achieve the level of communicative openness to which they aspire. This paper presents data from a small-scale exploratory study of adoptive family life. It draws on the narrative accounts of adoptive mothers and fathers to explore some of the sensitivities of adoption talk, the communication challenges experienced by adoptive parents, and the ways that adopters manage these challenges. Finally, some suggestions are made for practice

Developmental psychology · Narrative · Openness to experience · Child Development and Digital Technology · Child Welfare and Adoption · Family and Disability Support Research · Psychology · Social Psychology

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