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INTEGRATING THE OLDER/SPECIAL NEEDS ADOPTIVE CHILD INTO THE FAMILY
Author(s) -
Clark Pamela,
Thigpen Sally,
Yates Amy Moeller
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of marital and family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.868
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1752-0606
pISSN - 0194-472X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-0606.2006.tb01599.x
Subject(s) - grounded theory , cognitive reframing , context (archaeology) , psychology , perception , narrative , developmental psychology , unit (ring theory) , qualitative research , family therapy , social psychology , psychotherapist , sociology , social science , paleontology , linguistics , philosophy , mathematics education , neuroscience , biology
This qualitative, grounded theory study investigated 11 families who reported having successfully integrated into their family unit at least one older/special needs adoptee. The theory that emerged through the constant comparative methodology consisted of two categories (Decision to Adopt and Adjustment) and a core category (Developing a Sense of Family). The two categories and core category comprised a process that was informed by the Family Narrative Paradigm and culminated in the successful integration of the child or children into the existing family unit. Parental perceptions that appeared to facilitate this process included: (a) finding strengths in the children overlooked by previous caregivers, (b) viewing behavior in context, (c) reframing negative behavior, and (d) attributing improvement in behavior to parenting efforts.