Family adaptation in international adoption: An stress and coping process

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to test a theoretical model that asses the role of family stress and coping process in older international adoptee’s adjustment. The model propose that the pile up of demands in transition to adoptive parenthood, the family evaluation of crisis, their parenting practices and their perception of family adaptation have a mediating role between the behaviour problems of children at placement and their psychosocial adjustment after, atleast, one year in the family. Structural equations modelling was used to test the hypothesized relationship between family process and child adjustment in a sample of 167 families of children adopted after 3 years old. Findings reported a good fit of the model (chi=17,51; p=0,29; CFI=0,996; RMSEA =0,04). Implications for policy and practice are discussed.