The Affect of Adoption on a Couple’s Intimate Relationship

aut.conference.typeOral Presentation - Paper Presentation
aut.researcherScherman, Rhoda Melissa
dc.contributor.authorScherman, R
dc.contributor.authorMullenberg, R.
dc.date.accessioned2014-02-14T02:20:23Z
dc.date.accessioned2014-02-16T23:57:26Z
dc.date.available2014-02-14T02:20:23Z
dc.date.available2014-02-16T23:57:26Z
dc.date.copyright2013
dc.date.issued2013
dc.description.abstractAlthough adoption research literature is fairly extensive, the majority of research tends to focus on the parent/child relationship, or how the child copes with the adoption. Very little research has considered the relationship between the adoptive parents, despite a large body of literature about how new babies negatively impact a couple’s intimate relationship. As there are a number of unique stressors associated with adoption, it could be expected that adoptive couples might also see a decline in marital quality as they adapt to adoptive parenthood. In-depth interviews were conducted with two married couples, exploring how adoption has a"ected the intimate relationship between the husband and wife. !e focus of the interviews was the issues that adoptive parents face in the #rst year after adopting their children, in an attempt to gain an increased understanding of how these issues a"ect their marital relationship. Using thematic analysis to analyse data, three themes emerged: (1) women drive the process, (2) child cements the parent relationship, and (3) the waiting. !e results of the study indicated that both couples adapted to adoptive parenthood di"erently. Couple A indicated their marriage was strengthened as a result. Couple B indicated that their relationship has deteriorated since adoption. Findings from the current study suggest a possible need to develop support systems for adoptive parents, to assist them in their adjustment to parenthood, similar to those for biological parents.
dc.identifier.citationNew Zealand Psychological Society Annual Conference held at University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand, 2013-09-06 to 2013-09-09
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10292/6805
dc.publisherThe New Zealand Psychological Society supported by the Psychology Department, the University of Auckland
dc.relation.replaceshttp://hdl.handle.net/10292/6788
dc.relation.replaces10292/6788
dc.relation.urihttp://www.psychology.org.nz/conf2013
dc.rightsNOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in (see Citation). The original publication is available at (see Publisher's Version).
dc.rights.accessrightsOpenAccess
dc.titleThe Affect of Adoption on a Couple’s Intimate Relationship
dc.typeConference Contribution
pubs.elements-id161264
pubs.organisational-data/AUT
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/Health & Environmental Science
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