Factors that influence the transition to adoptive parenting: A systematic review

Authors

  • Patricia Santos Silva Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
  • Luísa Pellegrini Comerlato UFRGS
  • Maria Isabel Wendling
  • Giana Bitencourt Frizzo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4013/ctc.2018.113.04

Abstract

The transition to parenthood is a complex process affected by factors related to historical and social contexts. In the case of adoptive parenthood, there may be increased complexity involved in this process by a constellation of different emotional forces. Thus, the aim of this study was to understand the factors implicated in the transition to adoptive parenthood through a systematic literature review. The review considered scientific articles published between 2005 and 2015 in English and Portuguese on the following databases: Google Scholar, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, SciELO, Portal de Teses da CAPES, and the Adoption Quarterly journal. The 19 selected studies were analyzed using thematic analysis and it was possible to conclude that the transition to adoptive parenthood is influenced by issues relating to homoparenthood, personal characteristics of adopters and the adoptees, difficulties with adoption services, and post-adoption depressive symptoms. Therefore, we noticed a trend in the current literature and it was also possible to identify the need for new studies that address these issues in a longitudinal approach and with diversified samples.

Keywords: adoption, motherhood, fatherhood, adoptive parenthood.

Author Biography

Patricia Santos Silva, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

Patricia Santos da Silva

Psicóloga CRP 07/22991

Especialista em Psicologia Clínica - Individual, Família e Casal

Mestre em Psicologia

Doutoranda do Programa de Pós-graduação em Psicologia da UFRGS

Núcleo de Infância e Família (NUDIF/GIDEP) http://www.ufrgs.br/nudif

Telefone 51 96596526

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Published

2018-11-23

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 3 (2018): Sep-Dec

Section

Articles

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