Abstract: This paper analyzes the initial adaptation of a group of internationally adopted children and their subsequent adjustment after an average of three years living with their adoptive families. The sample consisted of 258 children adopted internationally by families living in four different re-gional communities in Spain. Fathers, mothers and children were visited and interviewed in their own homes. Results show very positive evaluations from families about children´s initial adaptation, although most of the children arrived with mild/moderate (19%) or severe (43%) developmental problems (assessment by Battelle scale). Level of development at arrival, initial adjustment, and behavioral problems are related to the dynamics established in these families three years, on average, after adoption. This paper provides data that allow us to emphasize the importance of preparation of families who are going to adopt, but also the importance of the support and follow-up after adoption.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to determine whether adopted children are more likely to have emotional or behavioral problems than non-adopted children. Emotional and behavioral problems were investigated in a sample of children aged 7 to 16. There were three comparison groups of non-adopted children. The results indicate that adopted children show, on average, more problems of this type than their peers. The biggest problems are expressed by children in residential foster care, with other adopted children in an intermediate position. In addition, in general, boys manifest greater problems than girls; but the
problems of adopted girls are greater than would be generally expected for their gender. Finally, there are no differences between children of primary education or secondary education
age. Additional research examining the variability in the group of adopted children is
warranted.
Abstract: The stress experienced by the adoptive parents of adolescents adopted as young children was explored in a community sample from Spain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of the child-, parent- and family-related characteristics as predictors of parenting stress in adoptive families. A group of 156 families of adolescents adopted domestically as young children participated in this study. The average age at the time of adoption was 3.15 years, 17.9% were sibling adoptions, and 10% had special needs. High correlations were found between mothers and fathers in the Stress Index for Parents of Adolescents(Sheras, Abidin, & Konold, 1998). Compared with other non-adoptive samples, the stress of the mothers was lower in the total scores, but higher in the adolescent domain. Variables pertaining to the child, to the parent and to the support and resources used regarding adoption made a significant contribution to the regression model (49.2% of the explained variance).
Abstract: In order to respond to prospective adoptersâ needs of preparation and support, a training programme was devised in Andalusia to
be part of the first phases in the adoption procedures. Using a participating active approach, the goals include the adoptersâ reflection
on the challenges of adoption, the consideration of their own resources and the ways to respond to potentially problematic situations,
with the ultimate goal of making the experience of adoption a more positive one for all those involved. This article describes the
programme as published in 2006 in Andalusia. The programme has become a reference for preparation programmes developed in
other Spanish regions.
Notes: Sánchez-Sandoval, Y., Palacios, J. y León, E. (2004). CaracterÃsticas de los niños y niñas procedentes de adopciones internacionales: historia previa y nivel de desarrollo. Portularia, vol. 4, 269-276. (ISSN 1578-0236)
Palacios, J. Sánchez-Sandoval, Y. y León, E. (2005). Adopción y problemas de conducta. Revista Iberoamericana de diagnóstico y evaluación psicológica, 19, 171-190. (ISSN 1135-3848)
Palacios, J. Sánchez-Sandoval, Y. y León, E. (2005). Intercountry adoption disruptions in Spain. Adoption Quarterly, 9, 1, 35-55. (ISSN 1092-6755)
Abstract: Adopted childrenâs behavior problems are here explored from the perspective of intragroup diversity more than from the adopted-nonadopted comparisons. In a sample of 181 chidren from six countries adopted into Spanish families at an average age of 38.5 months, childrenâs behaviour problems and the context of family dynamics in which they are situated were analyzed. Data show the
group of adoptees to be behaviorally normal, although with a higher incidence among them of hyperactivity-distraction problems. Behavior problems seem to simultaneously affect and be affected by parents-children relationships. Finally, data show that it is important not to consider the adoptees by general labels that tend not to appreciate the important diversity existing within this group.
Abstract: In the research regarding adoption, one of the most common lines of study is the comparison between children and teenagers who are adopted and those who are not. The literature has tended to show high levels of adjustment and performance among adopted youngsters, although the data vary from one study to another depending on, mainly, the type of adopted children taken into consideration and the comparison groups which are used. This paper reports a comparative study in which a total of 865 Andalusian children between the uges of 4 and 16 were studied. These children came from four different groups: adopted children, their current
classmates, children fiom the areas where the adopted children came from, and institutionalized children. The comparisons were carried out in three areas: behavior problems, self-estee and academic achievement. The results showed a big similarity between the adopted children and their current classmates, the institutionalized children being the ones who obtained the worst results in the comparisons as a whole.
Notes: Palacios González, J., Sánchez-Sandoval, Y. y Sánchez Espinosa, E. (1996). La adopción en AndalucÃa. Apuntes de PsicologÃa, 48, 7 25. (ISSN 0213-3334)
Palacios, J. y Sánchez-Sandoval, Y. (1996). Relaciones padres hijos en familias adoptivas. Anuario de PsicologÃa, 71, 87 105. (ISSN 0066-5126)
Palacios, J. y Sánchez-Sandoval, Y. (1998). TipologÃa de familias adoptivas. Bienestar y protección infantil, IV, 1, 7-26. (ISSN 1136-3649)
Sánchez-Sandoval, Y. (2002). La adopción de niños y niñas con discapacidad. Bienestar y protección infantil, 45-67. (ISSN 1136-3649)
Palacios, J. y Sánchez-Sandoval, Y. (2006). Stress in Parents of Adopted Children. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 30 (6), 481-487. (ISSN 0165-0254)
Abstract: Research on adoptive families has not studied parent-child relationships in depth and therefore there is very little literature on the characteristics of the family dynamics of adoptive families. In the case of Spain, it also happens that there are barely any studies like these which refer to the general population. As part of the study carried out with 393 Andalusian adoptive families, these issues were looked into in depth, analyzing the child rearing patterns of adoptive families in terms of the affect-communication and demands-control dimensions, and also taking into account the children's behaviours in terms of emotional implication, resistance to control and obedience. The results showed that there is a diversity of patterns
within adoptive families, a diversity which not always parallels the patterns found by researchers who have analyzed the family interaction dynamics of non-adoptive families. This diversity non withstanding, the great majority of the families analyzed showed high communication and affect values, and considered that it's very important to have a set of family rules, although there is more disparity in criteria regarding the parents' discipline and control techniques to ensure children's compliance.
Notes: Palacios, J. y Sánchez-Sandoval, Y. (2006). Stress in Parents of Adopted Children. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 30 (6), 481-487. (ISSN 0165-0254).
Palacios, J., Sánchez-Sandoval, Y. y Sánchez-Espinosa, E. (1996). La adopción en AndalucÃa. Apuntes de PsicologÃa, 48, 7 25. (ISSN 0213-3334)
Palacios, J. y Sánchez-Sandoval, Y. (1996). Niños adoptados y no adoptados: un estudio comparativo. Anuario de PsicologÃa, 71, 63 85. (ISSN 0066-5126)
