An Empirical Study of Adult Adoptees, Essay Example

Longterm effects of adoption may not be recognized all at one. However, research studies proved that whether they appear one year or twenty years after the adoption process is complete effects are evident. Dr. Emilie Ann Paczkowski from the University of California conducted a research whereby attempts were made to uncover the features responsible for achieving the status of successful adoption parenting. In so doing the researcher tried identifying aspects of communication relevant to evading most common challenges of Adoption inclusive of bounding between parent and child/children. There were twenty seven parents’ participants (n=27). The program encompassed training, education, intervention among other services, which seemed applicable to the specific needs of participants. The name given to the idea was UCLA TIES being designed to follow up with participating parents for a period of five years (Paczkowski, 144)

This researcher targeted a number of domains in establishing criteria for efficient adoption parenting styles. One of the first to be examined was whether adoption affected a child’s cognitive development. The possibility of whether adoption produced stress and psychological dysfunctions were fully reviewed. A second domain explored pertained to the influence of risk factors such as neglect, age of adoption, abuse, previous placements and birth parents visitations. Essentially, living with birth parents prior to adoption seemed to have a great impact on how adoption parenting is ultimately received and applied. A third domain of interest reviewed child behavior issues evolving from the adoption process itself(Paczkowski, 144).

Conclusions were profound confirming that at any stage of the adoption process children and parents could face challenge, which have long term psychological effects. The researcher validatedincidences where living with biological parents prior to adoption was one produced one of the greatest long term effects. Children who do not know their biological parents did not have the opportunity bounding. Breaking this bound creates bitterness. Paczkowski, in her study contended that these children later develop behavior problems which makes parenting even more difficult

In further research on the subject Lieberman and Morris conducted an empirical study on Long-Term Effects of Adoption by comparingextrafamilial adult adoptees and a non-adopted adults. These researchers applied projective tests and life history interviews. Eighteen (18) adoptees and sixteen (16) non-adoptees were utilized in the study.They were administered the Thematic Apperception and Loevinger’s Sentence Completion Test. These tests are used to evaluate ego stages, TAT being scored to assess alienation levels and the McClelland’s test evaluated the need for affiliation (Lieberman & Morris).

Findings confirmed the major hypothesis prediction that adoptees would produce higher scores in alienation than non-adoptees whereas non-adoptees were expected to have higher in Affiliation variables, than adoptees (Lieberman & Morris). Precisely, this is not surprise to scientists and lay persons observing adoption process, children caught in the dilemma and adoptive parents who have to manage them.

From a child’s perspective, who has very lite control over being adopted or not, this could be a traumatic situation. Some children are moved to several foster care homes before arriving at one that would be acceptable for rising a child in a healthy environment. According to Paczkowski, removing a child from foster care into the adoption process begin a long term effect. It could begin from neglect undo abuse and suicide in adulthood. Lieberman & Morris study confirm the low affiliation levels of adoptive children, who are scarred psychologically. The tendency to always feel unfilled is apparent. Therefore, in summarizing the longterm effects of adoption it could be identified as low levels of affiliation and high levels of alienation. Also,whether they appear one year or twenty years after the adoption process is complete effects are evident.

Works cited

Lieberman, G & Morris, D.Long-Term Effects of Adoption: An Empirical Study Of Adult Adoptees.The Internet Journal of Academic Physician Assistants. 2004 4(1)

Paczkowski, Emilie Ann.Long-term adjustment of parents adopting from foster care: The Influence of parent and child factors on perceived positive and negative family impact. University of California. 2009. Print