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"Uma montanha às curvas, mas sempre a subir" : perceções parentais sobre dificuldades e adaptação na pós-adoção
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Resumo(s)
A generalidade das crianças adotadas desenvolve-se dentro de padrões desejáveis, apesar das
adversidades precocemente vivenciadas. A literatura na psicologia da adoção tem sugerido que
a integração num novo contexto familiar positivo acarreta um potencial reparador dessas
vivências. Não obstante, são escassos os estudos que exploram os processos da criança,
parentais, familiares e contextuais que penalizam ou contribuem para o desenvolvimento de
trajetórias adaptativas na fase de pós-adoção. O presente estudo, alicerçado numa abordagem
metodológica qualitativa com a realização de entrevistas semiestruturadas a 24 pais adotivos,
pretendeu analisar a sua experiência relativamente ao processo adaptativo, focando
dificuldades e fatores de superação, bem como a sua relação com o funcionamento familiar e
com crenças parentais sobre diferenças/semelhanças entre famílias adotivas e biológicas. Os
dados recolhidos foram analisados através de uma Análise Temática. Os resultados sugeriram
que, apesar das dificuldades associadas ao comportamento desafiante da criança, ao stress
parental, conflitos pais-filhos e à perda de individualidade, as famílias mobilizaram recursos e
estratégias de coping, salientando-se os laços familiares afetivos, a reflexividade e
flexibilização parental e a proatividade para procurar a rede de apoio formal e informal. Assim,
relativamente ao funcionamento familiar, os resultados sugeriram a presença de indicadores
negativos mas, sobretudo, a predominância de indicadores positivos em termos de
flexibilidade, coesão e comunicação. Não se verificou associação entre as crenças dos pais
sobre diferenças/semelhanças entre famílias adotivas e biológicas e o funcionamento familiar,
dificuldades ou fatores facilitadores da adaptação. Os resultados revelaram a positividade das
perceções parentais sobre as dificuldades e potencialidades na vivência da adoção como uma
força familiar, promotora de um constante potencial evolutivo e adaptativo. São apontados
contributos para a investigação e sugerem-se processos-chave individuais, parentais e
familiares passíveis de serem otimizados na intervenção em fase de pós-adoção.
Most adopted children develop to desirable outcomes, despite early adversity. The literature in adoption psychology has suggested that integration into a nurturing family environment has the potential to repair these experiences. Nevertheless, studies exploring the child, parental, family, and contextual processes that inhibit or foster adaptive trajectories in the post-adoption period are scarce. The present study, based on a qualitative methodological approach with semi-structured interviews to 24 adoptive parents, aimed to analyze their experience regarding the adaptive process, focusing on difficulties and adaptation factors, as well as its relationship with family functioning and parental beliefs about differences/ similarities between adoptive and biological families. The collected data were analyzed through a Thematic Analysis. Results suggested that despite the difficulties associated with the child's challenging behavior, parental stress, parent-child conflicts and loss of individuality, families mobilized resources and coping strategies, highlighting family bonds, parental reflective functioning and flexibility, and the proactivity to seek formal and informal supports. Thus, regarding family functioning, results suggested the presence of negative indicators but especially the predominance of positive indicators in terms of flexibility, cohesion, and communication. No association was found between parents' beliefs about differences/similarities between adoptive and biological families and the family functioning, difficulties, or adaptation factors. Results also revealed the positivity of parental perceptions on the difficulties and potentialities in the living experience of adoption as a family strength, able to promote a constant evolving and adaptive potential. These findings provide direction for future research and suggest key individual, parental and family processes that can be enhanced in post-adoption intervention.
Most adopted children develop to desirable outcomes, despite early adversity. The literature in adoption psychology has suggested that integration into a nurturing family environment has the potential to repair these experiences. Nevertheless, studies exploring the child, parental, family, and contextual processes that inhibit or foster adaptive trajectories in the post-adoption period are scarce. The present study, based on a qualitative methodological approach with semi-structured interviews to 24 adoptive parents, aimed to analyze their experience regarding the adaptive process, focusing on difficulties and adaptation factors, as well as its relationship with family functioning and parental beliefs about differences/ similarities between adoptive and biological families. The collected data were analyzed through a Thematic Analysis. Results suggested that despite the difficulties associated with the child's challenging behavior, parental stress, parent-child conflicts and loss of individuality, families mobilized resources and coping strategies, highlighting family bonds, parental reflective functioning and flexibility, and the proactivity to seek formal and informal supports. Thus, regarding family functioning, results suggested the presence of negative indicators but especially the predominance of positive indicators in terms of flexibility, cohesion, and communication. No association was found between parents' beliefs about differences/similarities between adoptive and biological families and the family functioning, difficulties, or adaptation factors. Results also revealed the positivity of parental perceptions on the difficulties and potentialities in the living experience of adoption as a family strength, able to promote a constant evolving and adaptive potential. These findings provide direction for future research and suggest key individual, parental and family processes that can be enhanced in post-adoption intervention.
Descrição
Dissertação de mestrado, Psicologia Clínica e da Saúde (Área de Especialização em Psicologia Clínica Sistémica – Contextos Familiar, Comunitário e Forense), 2023, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Psicologia
Palavras-chave
Pós-adoção Crenças parentais Família adoptiva Estratégias de coping Práticas parentais Regulação emocional Criança adoptada Dissertações de mestrado - 2023