The Remembered Experience of Adoption: Factors Supporting Healthy Adjustment Crystal R
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Antioch University AURA - Antioch University Repository and Archive Student & Alumni Scholarship, including Dissertations & Theses Dissertations & Theses 2016 The Remembered Experience of Adoption: Factors Supporting Healthy Adjustment Crystal R. Gonsalves Antioch University Santa Barbara Follow this and additional works at: http://aura.antioch.edu/etds Part of the Clinical Psychology Commons, and the Counseling Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Gonsalves, Crystal R., "The Remembered Experience of Adoption: Factors Supporting Healthy Adjustment" (2016). Dissertations & Theses. 311. http://aura.antioch.edu/etds/311 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Student & Alumni Scholarship, including Dissertations & Theses at AURA - Antioch University Repository and Archive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations & Theses by an authorized administrator of AURA - Antioch University Repository and Archive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. THE REMEMBERED EXPERIENCE OF ADOPTION: FACTORS SUPPORTING HEALTHY ADJUSTMENT A dissertation presented to the faculty of ANTIOCH UNIVERSITY SANTA BARBARA in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY in CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY By CRYSTAL R. GONSALVES AUGUST 12, 2016 i THE REMEMBERED EXPERIENCE OF ADOPTION: FACTORS SUPPORTING HEALTHY ADJUSTMENT This dissertation, by Crystal R. Gonsalves, has been approved by the committee members signed below who recommend that it be accepted by the faculty of Antioch University Santa Barbara in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY Dissertation Committee: ____________________________________ Steve Kadin, PhD Chairperson ____________________________________ Bella DePaulo, PhD Second Faculty ____________________________________ Violet Oaklander, PhD External Expert ii Copyright © 2016 By Crystal R. Gonsalves iii ABSTRACT This qualitative research study is designed to explore ideas, customs, and practices related to adoption from the perspective of adult adoptees. While many studies seek to explain the negative impact of adoption, minimal literature exists with regard to a phenomenological exploration of adoption practices that successfully promote healthy adjustment and a sense of resilience and well-being in adopted children. Existing research on adoption has largely been conducted quantitatively, which can fail to capture the personal, lived experience of a positive adoption experience that leads to healthy adjustment. Specifically, little is known about which factors of the adoption experience adoptees perceive as contributing to healthy adjustment and a sense of well-being. The proposed study located themes and patterns that became apparent through narrative inquiry concerning factors in the adoption experience that contributed to adjustment. Narrative research honors the knowledge held in stories that are retrieved from memory (Fry, 2002). By interviewing adults who were adopted as children, it is hoped that their personal stories can augment clinical conceptualizations of adoption and shed light on positive meaning-making experiences in the context of adoption. These conceptualizations will be of use to persons and professionals who work closely with those involved in adoption, including mental health professionals and paraprofessionals working closely with adoptees and their families. This information is of value for those involved in family dependency treatment courts, child welfare services, and other agencies who wish to promote positive experiences for children and families who become involved in the adoption process. The electronic version of the dissertation is accessible at the Ohiolink ETD center http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd. iv Acknowledgments Thank you to the nine individuals that provided a testimonial lens into their experience of adoption. By sharing your story you have provided understanding of an alternative, often untold, narrative of adoption, one that does not deny that adopted people sometimes have issues but also acknowledges that adoptees can be resilient, well-adjusted and live happy, meaningful lives. Thank you to my dissertation committee, Dr. Steve Kadin, Dr. Bella DePaulo and Dr. Violet Oaklander. To Dr. Steve Kadin, thank you for being the calm in the storm and for being a constant support since day one of my doctoral journey. Thank you to Dr. Bella DePaulo for matching my passion in challenging stereotypes and providing alternative perspectives to common belief. To Dr. Violet Oaklander, thank you for your enthusiasm, encouragement and expertise in the areas of attachment and childhood development. To my mother, Mary Ann Gonsalves-Roen for being progressive in the way she handled the adoption process, for loving me unconditionally, and for being my biggest fan. Thank you to my father, Kevin Roen for being there for me whenever I need you, for providing me with encouragement and unwavering support in my personal and educational endeavors. Thank you to my Auntie Bernie, your humor, warmth, support and love have been monumental in shaping who I am as a person. To my Auntie Catherine, thank you for sharing your love of books, museums and culture. Thank you to Auntie Nina and Uncle David for your support, love and second home. Thank you to Auntie Evie and Uncle Bill, your warmth, commitment and kindness have kept me going and believing in the process. Thank you to my family and close friends for supporting me, encouraging me and loving me through this journey. v Table of Contents Chapter I: Introduction………………………………………………………………..........1 Chapter II: Literature Review………………………………………………………….......6 Literature Review………………………………………………………………..........6 Gaps in the Literature…………………………………………………………..........49 Chapter III Research Design and Methodology……………………………………….....57 Research Design………………………………………………………………………........57 Participants……………………………………………………………………………........60 Data Collection Procedures……………………………………………………………......61 Data Analysis Procedures…………………………………………………………….........63 Ethical Considerations………………………………………………………………...........65 Chapter IV: Results Introduction………………………………………………………………………......67 Participant Descriptions………………………………………………………..........67 Themes.........................................................................................................................70 Theme One: Positive Narrative of Adoption………………………................70 Theme Two: Preference for Early Adoption Disclosure.................................74 Theme Three: Attachment to Adoptive Parent.................................................77 Theme Four: Feeling Stigmatized or Different................................................80 Theme Five: Reasons for and Against Contact with Biological Relatives......82 Theme Six: Positive Impact of Talking to Other Adoptees………………......87 Theme Seven: Successful Integration into Adoptive Family……………........89 Chapter V: Discussion………………………………………………………………….......91 Theme One: Positive Narrative of Adoption…………………………………….......92 Theme Two: Belief in Early Adoption Disclosure to Adoptee…………………….....94 Theme Three: Positive Relationship with at Least One Adoptive Parent…………....96 Theme Four: Feeling Stigmatized or Different…………………………………........98 Theme Five: Reasons for and Against Contact with Biological Relatives………....100 Theme Six: Positive Impact of Talking to Other Adoptees………………………....102 Theme Seven: Integration into Adoptive Family…………………………….....…. 103 Implications for Clinical Practice.............................................................................104 Implications for Future Research..............................................................................105 Limitations.................................................................................................................106 Conclusions................................................................................................................107 Chapter VI: References ………………………………………………………………......108 Chapter VII: Appendices………………………………………………………………....119 Appendix A: Informed Consent………………………………………………………….....119 vi Appendix B: Interview Questions …………………………………………………….........121 Appendix C: Demographic Questionnaire…………………………………………….........123 Appendix D: Permission to Use the Brief Resilience Scale…...…………………………...126 vii CHAPTER I: BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE FOR THE STUDY Introduction and Background As of July 2013, there were 399,546 children living in foster care in the United States alone (The AFCARS Report, 2013). Of those children in foster care, 101,719 were waiting to be adopted. However, nearly 40% of these children had to wait an average of three years in foster care before they were adopted (The AFCARS Report, 2013). There is a great need for people to adopt children, although parents may be apprehensive about choosing to adopt. Parents may give a variety of reasons for choosing not to adopt. In general, the word “adoption” continues to have underlying negativity associated with it even though many adopted people have positive experiences and are even considered to be resilient. The study of resilience and adjustment is currently gathering more momentum in the psychological literature. The ability to be resilient is considered to be a vital part of human social development in that it can mean the difference between a successful and unsuccessful life. In this study, the topic of resilience will be examined and defined to provide criteria