Associations between symptoms of common mental disorders, parental satisfaction and consideration for adoption breakdown in Brazilian adoptive parents

Abstract

BackgroundAdoption breakdown can cause another trauma for vulnerable children and impact their development. ObjectiveThe present study aimed to analyze the factors associated with consideration for adoption breakdown in a Brazilian sample of adoptive parents. The factors investigated were: (1) symptoms of common mental disorders; (2) expectations about the child's temperament; (3) dissatisfaction with parenting and; (4) the adoption of sibling groups. MethodAn online survey was used to access adoptive families. For data analysis, descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. ParticipantsThe sample (N = 205) was composed of adoptive parents ranging from 38 to 55 years old (M = 39.6; SD = 6.6), mostly heterosexual (87.2%), married (81%) and with only one adopted child (57%). ResultsThe results revealed that parents’ symptoms of common mental disorders are associated with the consideration for adoption breakdown (OR = 1216; p = .001). In addition, a higher level of dissastisfaction with parenting causes a threefold increase in the chance of thinking about adoption breakdown (OR = 3078; p = .001). DiscussionIt is clear, therefore, that parents' mental health seems to be associated with parental consideration for adoption breakdown. These data corroborate the literature that suggests that parents' dissatisfaction with parenting may contribute to parents to think about adoption breakdown. The identification of these factors contributes significantly to those who work with adoption support, particularly helping in the adaptation of the adoptive families.