Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire Research Articles

Remembered Parental Rejection and Psychological Maladjustment in Turkish Adults: The Mediating Role of Interpersonal Rejection Sensitivity

This study examined interpersonal acceptance-rejection theory’s (IPARTheory’s) prediction that adults’ (both men’s and women’s) remembrances of parental (maternal and paternal) rejection in childhood are likely to be associated with adults’ psychological maladjustment, as mediated by adults’ interpersonal rejection sensitivity. To test these predictions a sample of 372 adults (178 women, 193 men; age range 18–59 and Sd: 11) in Turkiye participated in the study. Respondents completed the short forms of the Adult Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire for both mother and father, the Adult Personality Assessment Questionnaire (short form), the Interpersonal Rejection Sensitivity Scale, and the Personal Information Form. In line with this aim, this study examined the direct effect and indirect effect of adults’ memories of parental acceptance-rejection in childhood on adults’ psychological maladjustment through the mediator variable (rejection sensitivity) depending on age. The findings indicated that adults’ remembrances of paternal rejection during childhood independently predicted their interpersonal rejection sensitivity and psychological maladjustment. Mediation analyses revealed that rejection sensitivity partially mediated the relationship between parental rejection (both maternal and paternal) and psychological maladjustment in men. However, in women, while it partially mediated the relationship between paternal rejection and psychological maladjustment, it fully mediated the relationship between maternal rejection and psychological maladjustment. These findings offer evidence supporting the connections between childhood remembrances of parental rejection psychological maladjustment, and interpersonal rejection sensitivity in adults.

Response surface analysis exploring congruence and incongruence patterns on mother-adolescent perceived maternal rejection

This study analyzes congruence and incongruence between mothers and adolescents on perceived maternal rejection as a predictor of externalizing and internalizing problems. The sample comprised 162 Spanish families (adolescent, father, and mother). The children (38.3% males, 98.8% Caucasian) were between the ages of 12 and 16 years old (M = 13.27, Sd = 1.23). Mothers and adolescents completed specific versions of the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire, and fathers completed the Child Behavior Checklist. Polynomial regressions, including the quadratic and interaction terms of the predictors and response surface analysis, were conducted. The results indicate a congruent effect in predicting externalizing problems from mothers’ and adolescents’ reports on perceived maternal rejection. Thus, congruence between adolescents and mothers on high perceived maternal rejection is associated with the highest levels of adolescent psychological maladjustment, and congruence between adolescents and mothers on low perceived maternal rejection is associated with the lowest levels of adolescent psychological maladjustment. In contrast, the magnitude—but not the direction—of incongruence in perceptions between mothers and adolescents has a positive effect, as it is associated with a decreased risk of externalizing problems. This study contributes to existing knowledge surrounding the importance of employing multiple-informant assessment and using appropriate approaches to study discrepant reporting by mothers and adolescents on family variables, and its effect on adolescent mental health.

Does broad autism phenotype traits effect mother-child interaction?: a cross-sectional study from Turkey

Objectives Broad Autism Phenotype (BAP) is defined as personality, social, and language features that parallel the defining behavioral characteristics of autism spectrum disorder, including social deficits, communication abnormalities, and stereotyped repetitive behavior. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of maternal BAP characteristics on the dynamic interaction between mothers and their children. Methods Children aged 12–60 months who were referred to the Infant Mental Health Unit of our outpatient clinic were analyzed. Forty-one children who were diagnosed with autism and 35 children who were diagnosed with global developmental delay (GDD) and their mothers were included in the study. The Parent–Infant Relationship Global Assessment Scale (PIR-GAS), Autism-Spectrum Quotient (ASQ), Parental Acceptance–Rejection Questionnaire, and Recognition of Emotional Maltreatment Scale (REMS) were used. Results The PIR-GAS score was significantly lower in the autism group than in the GDD group, and mothers of children with autistic children exhibited higher BAP scores. Conclusions Our study suggests a link between maternal BAP scores and the quality of mother-child relationships. Further studies are needed to examine and improve our ability to evaluate the effects of parental BAP in terms of parental intervention effectiveness.

Measurement invariance of the Child Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire-Short Form across parental versions, age, gender, clinical status, and time

This study aimed to investigate the factorial structure and measurement invariance of the Romanian version of the Child Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire- Short Form (Child-PARQ, short form) across parents, age, gender, clinical status, and time. Participants were 1,237 youths (community sample: N = 1,033; clinical sample: N = 204) aged 11–18 years old. The analysis was conducted using RStudio. The factorial structure of the scale was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis, and measurement invariance was examined via multi-group confirmatory factor analysis. Results confirmed the original four-factor model for both the PARQ-Mother and the PARQ-Father. For the PARQ-Mother, we found measurement invariance across gender and time, and partial measurement invariance across age and clinical status. Regarding the PARQ-Father, we confirmed measurement invariance across gender, age, and time, and partial measurement invariance across clinical status. Finally, we demonstrated measurement invariance across the PARQ-Mother and the PARQ-Father. Criterion validity was also demonstrated by finding significant associations with internalizing and externalizing symptoms, as measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Overall, the present findings suggest that the Child-PARQ (short form) is a valuable tool with acceptable psychometric properties for assessing perceived parental acceptance-rejection in preadolescents and adolescents.

Psychosocial outcomes of children born via embryo donation.

What are parents' perceptions of their relationships with and the psychosocial adjustments of their children who are born via embryo donation? Families created through embryo donation have well-adjusted parent-child relationships and reassuring child psychosocial outcomes. Embryo donation is an effective and growing form of third-party reproduction, but there is limited research in this field. Prior studies suggest that families created through gamete donation function well regarding parent-child relationship quality and child behavioral and socioemotional adjustment. This is a cross-sectional survey study with 187 total participants. Parents of children born via embryo donation were recruited nationally by contacting all embryo donation programs registered with the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinic Outcome Reporting System (SART CORS) as well as medically directed embryo donation or 'embryo adoption' centers. Participants completed three online Qualtrics questionnaires. The first was a survey including 33 questions on demographics, the procurement process, and self-reported obstetric outcomes. Participants also completed two standardized measures assessing children's behavior and parents' adjustment to parenthood: the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (PARQ). Scoring of the SDQ and PARQ was totaled and compared to standardized values (SDQ) or previously published results on other forms of gamete donation (PARQ), such as oocyte donation and sperm donation. On the SDQ (n = 46), the average total difficulties scores by age were: 8.2 ± 0.98 for ages 2-4, 7.6 ± 0.93 for ages 5-10, and 3.5 ± 0.77 for ages 11-17; this is compared to the normal reported range of 0-13, which indicates that clinically significant psychosocial problems are unlikely. Across all ages and individual categories (emotional symptoms, conduct problem, hyperactivity, peer problem, prosocial), scores on the SDQ were within the normal ranges. The average PARQ score (n = 70) for all respondents was 27.5 ± 1.18 (range: 24-96), suggesting perceived parental acceptance. Because this study was cross-sectional, it could not capture familial relationships over time. This survey-based study design allows for potential selection bias (parents of well-adjusted children may be more likely to participate). Additionally, the overall sample size is relatively small; however, it remains one of the largest published to date. Another significant limitation to this study is the lack of generalizability: most participants were recruited from private, faith-based, embryo donation programs who are demographically similar. Though embryo donation is an established form of third-party reproduction, it is significantly less robustly studied compared to other forms of gamete donation (oocyte or sperm donation). This study provides a larger data set with a more expanded age range of children compared to the limited number of previously published studies. Furthermore, these findings indicate a high parental disclosure rate with respect to the use of embryo donation which contrasts previous findings. No external funding source was utilized for the completion of this study. No conflicts are disclosed. N/A.

Perceived Maternal Acceptance-Rejection as a Predictor of Emotional Intelligence in Adolescence

Background: Emotional intelligence (EI) plays a crucial role in the psychological development of adolescents, influencing their social behaviors and academic achievements. Previous research has established a connection between parenting styles, particularly maternal acceptance or rejection, and the development of EI in children. The warmth and support provided by a mother are essential elements that contribute significantly to the nurturing of EI during adolescence. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the predictive role of perceived maternal acceptance-rejection on the emotional intelligence of adolescents in Karachi, Pakistan, contributing to the existing body of knowledge by focusing on a non-Western context. Methods: The study was approved by relevant institutional review boards and adhered to ethical standards. A total of 600 adolescents, aged 13-17 years, were selected from various schools in Karachi, maintaining an equal distribution between genders. Participants were assessed using the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (PARQ) Child Form for mothers and the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Adolescent Short Form (TEIQ-ASF). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0, with linear regression analysis employed to examine the relationship between perceived maternal acceptance-rejection and EI. Results: The internal consistency of the scales was confirmed, with Cronbach's alpha values of .91 for the PARQ and .84 for the TEIQ-ASF. Linear regression analysis revealed a significant predictive relationship between perceived maternal acceptance-rejection and emotional intelligence (R = .213, R² = .045, F = 28.506, p < .05). Specifically, maternal rejection was negatively associated with the EI scores of adolescents, indicating that higher levels of perceived rejection correlated with lower levels of EI. Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of maternal acceptance in the development of emotional intelligence among adolescents. These results suggest that interventions aimed at enhancing maternal acceptance could potentially foster the development of EI, thereby contributing positively to the psychological well-being and social functioning of adolescents.

Relations of Parental Acceptance-Rejection and Psychological (Mal)Adjustment with Forgiveness and Vengeance among Bangladeshi Young Adults

The study investigated whether adults’ memories of parental acceptance-rejection in childhood predict their current levels of forgiveness and vengeance as mediated by psychological (mal)adjustment. The data were collected from 252 young adults (Women = 137, Men = 115, Age range = 18 – 22 years; Mage = 19.42; SD = 0.99). Measures used were the Adult Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (PARQ) short form for fathers and mothers, the Adult Personality Assessment Questionnaire (PAQ) short form for adults, the Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS), the Vengeance Scale (VS-10), and the Personal Information Form. Mediation analysis indicated that memories of maternal and paternal rejection predicted vengeance as mediated by psychological maladjustment among both men and women. Further, women’s and men’s memories of parental (both maternal and paternal) acceptance predicted forgiveness as mediated by psychological adjustment.

Relations among Memories of Parental Acceptance-Rejection, Psychological (Mal)Adjustment, Forgiveness, and Vengeance among Turkish Adults

The study investigated relations among memories of parental (maternal and paternal) acceptance-rejection, forgiveness, and vengeance, as mediated by psychological (mal)adjustment. The sample consists of 323 Turkish adults (50% females; Age range: 18–61 years; Mage = 35.73, SD = 10.41) from Istanbul, Turkiye. Participants responded to mother and father versions of the adult Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (adult PARQ; short form), the adult Personality Assessment Questionnaire (adult PAQ; short form), the Heartland Forgiveness Scale, the Vengeance Scale, and the Personal Information Form. The results showed that both men and women remembered their parents as substantially warm and accepting during childhood and self-reported having fair psychological adjustment. Men and women were found to be equally likely to be forgiving as unforgiving and reported no dispositions toward vengeance. However, men reported higher levels of vengeance as compared to women. Psychological adjustment mediated the relations between parental acceptance and forgiveness, while psychological maladjustment mediated the relations between parental rejection and vengefulness for women and men. Implications of the findings and future research directions are discussed.

Parenting practices and adolescents’ mental health: Serial mediation by parental acceptance and adolescents’ grit

ABSTRACT This quantitative cross-sectional study assessed the serial mediation effect of perceived parental acceptance and adolescents’ grit on the relationship between effective parenting practices and adolescents’ mental health. A total of 761 school-going adolescents (468 females; aged 13–18 years) from the Klang Valley area were recruited using purposive sampling method. They completed the Perceived Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire, Short Grit Scale, Alabama Parenting Questionnaire, and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. PROCESS macro analysis revealed that the relationship between paternal and maternal effective parenting practices and adolescents’ mental health were independently mediated by both perceived parental acceptance and adolescents’ grit. This shows that effective parenting practices used by fathers and mothers help in reducing adolescents’ mental health issues as effective parenting is perceived as a form of acceptance and is able to improve grittiness in adolescents. Moreover, a serial mediation analysis found that higher usage of effective parenting practices in fathers and mothers are perceived for higher acceptance, contributing to higher grittiness, which then lowers mental health issues in adolescents. Our results suggest that organizations and individuals involved with adolescents should actively promote the adoption of effective parenting techniques by both mothers and fathers to enhance the mental well-being of adolescents.

The Effects of Parental Conflicts and Divorce Towards Self-efficacy in Romantic Relationships of Young Adults Male

Parental conflict and divorce trends have been increasing over the years and hinder parents from nurturing their children, particularly fathers. Fathers are more likely to disengage in parenting after a divorce. This may affect children in their romantic relationships in later life. This study aimed to examine the effects of parental conflict and divorce and father parenting practices towards self-efficacy in romantic relationships of young adults male. The study applied quantitative methods with correlational, comparative, and regression analysis. 62 male and single young adults whose parents were divorced before the age of 18 were involved and chosen with purposive sampling. The data was collected by using the children's perception of interparental conflict scale (α=0.92), parental acceptance-rejection questionnaire (α=0.86), and self-efficacy in romantic relationship scale (α=0.89). The results revealed that there is a partial correlation between parental conflict intensity and relationship anxiety and other aspects related to the self-efficacy of young male adults. Paired t-test illustrated differences in self-efficacy in romantic relationships based on individual characteristics and father parenting practices (negative). Regression analysis also demonstrated a significant effect of father parenting practices, both positive and negative, towards self-efficacy in romantic relationships. In conclusion, the efficacy of romantic relationships in early adulthood from divorced families is influenced by negative paternal parenting.

New Paths for Parental Warmth and Subjective Well-Being: The Mediator Roles of Automatic Negative Thoughts.

A growing number of studies have pointed out that parental acceptance-rejection, which is the degree of warmth in parenting, is an important factor that influences not only children's but also adults' subjective well-being. However, few studies have analyzed subjective well-being in adulthood based on the emergence of cognitive automatic thinking processes that are triggered by the level of parental warmth. Specifically, the mediator role of negative automatic thoughts in the relationship between parental warmth and subjective well-being is still under debate. This present study extended the parental acceptance and rejection theory by integrating automatic negative thoughts into the core concept of cognitive behavioral theory. The present study attempts to examine the mediator role of negative automatic thoughts in the relationship between retrospective reports of emerging adults' parental warmth and their subjective well-being. The participants consist of 680 of 49.4% women and 50.6% men Turkish-speaking emerging adults. The Adult Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire Short-Form was used to measure parental warmth for their past experience, the negative automatic thoughts measured by the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire, and life satisfaction, negative and positive emotions of participants were measured by the Subjective Well-being Scale for their present level. Mediation analysis through the bootstrap sampling method via indirect custom dialog was used to examine data. The models supported the hypotheses, the retrospective reports of parental warmth in childhood predict the subjective well-being of emerging adults. The automatic negative thoughts had competitive mediation on this relationship. The perceived parental warmth in childhood decreases automatic negative thoughts, then turns to affect greater subjective well-being in adulthood. The current study results contribute to the counselling practice by suggesting that decreasing negative automatic thoughts could benefit the subjective well-being of emerging adults. Further, parental warmth interventions and family counselling have the potential to enhance these benefits.

Mediating Role of Child’s Executive Function Deficits in the Association of Parenting and School Success

This study aims to explore the role of a child’s executive function deficits in the association of positive and negative parenting styles and practices with school success at early school age. A sample consisted of 174 parents who completed the Parenting Style Questionnaire, the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire, and the Childhood Executive Functioning Inventory. Structural equation modelling analyses revealed complete mediation of authoritarian parenting style, parental hostility/aggression and indifference/neglect on child’s low literacy and mathematics achievement by child’s executive function deficits. In contrast, the mediating role of child’s executive function deficits in the relationship between authoritative parenting style and parental warmth/affection and school success was not confirmed. The results of the study indicate that executive function deficits act as a risk factor in literacy and mathematics achievement of early school-age children whose parents express high levels of negative parenting style and practices. The study suggests that appropriate interventions would have to be focused on parent training and programmes for improving child’s executive functions.

Temperament Characteristics of Preschoolers and Maternal Acceptance and Rejection Statuses of Their Mothers

The study was conducted to examine the relationship between maternal acceptance-rejection and children’s temperament characteristics and whether children’s temperament characteristics predicted maternal acceptance-rejection. The data of the study, which employed a predictive correlational design, were obtained from 349 children in the 4-6 age group attending preschool education and their mothers. The data were collected using the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire and the Child Behavior Checklist and analyzed using Pearson’s Correlation Analysis and Multiple Linear Regression Analysis. As a result of the study, a significant relationship was found between maternal acceptance-rejection and all temperament traits except discomfort, fear, shyness, impulsivity, and approach/positive participation. It was also found that maternal coldness and lack of affection were predicted by perceptual sensitivity, low-intensity pleasure, and smiling and laughter, maternal hostility and aggression were predicted by falling reactivity and soothability, maternal indifference and neglect were predicted by sadness, and maternal undifferentiated rejection was predicted by the temperament characteristics of attentional focusing and anger/frustration.

The Interaction Effect of Parental Rejection and Oxytocin Receptor Gene Polymorphism on Depression: A Cross-Cultural Study in Non-Clinical Samples

Parental rejection has been consistently empirically implicated in a wide array of developmental, behavioural and psychological problems worldwide. However, the interaction effect between parental rejection in childhood and the oxytocin receptor genotype on psychological adjustment has yet to be investigated. The present study aimed to investigate gene–environment interaction effects between parental rejection (maternal and paternal) and oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene polymorphisms (rs53576 and rs2254298) on depressive symptoms in adults in different cultural contexts. Adults from Italy and Japan (N = 133, age = 18–27 years, females = 68) were preliminarily genotyped and then completed the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire for mothers and fathers and the Beck Depression Inventory. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that paternal rejection was related to self-reported depression and that the effect of parental rejection was moderated by OXTR gene polymorphisms and nationality. Among Italians, OXTR rs2254298 A-carriers showed resilience to negative early parental care, whereas among Japanese, OXTR rs53576 non-A-carriers showed resistance to negative early paternal care. These findings align with expected relations between perceived acceptance–rejection and an individual’s psychological adjustment, as proposed by interpersonal acceptance–rejection theory, and indicate the need for future studies adopting a multicultural and multilevel approach to better understand how the effects of parental rejection extend into adulthood.

Associations between perceived maternal acceptance–rejection and social and emotional competence of preschool children

ABSTRACT This study analysed the associations between preschoolers’ perceived maternal acceptance–rejection and their social and emotional competence. Participants were 90 Portuguese children (55.6% boys) aged 54–82 months and their parents. Children completed the Early Childhood Parental Acceptance–Rejection Questionnaire (Mothers’ Short Form) and parents reported the children’s social and emotional skills using the Social Skills Rating System and the Emotion Regulation Checklist. Significant correlations between perceived maternal acceptance–rejection and children’s age and mothers’ education were found. Older children reported higher maternal rejection and children with lower educated mothers perceived less maternal warmth/affection. Moreover, hierarchical regression analysis showed that after controlling for children’s age and mothers’ education, maternal rejection contributes independently to children’s social skills, with children who perceive more maternal rejection showing fewer social skills. The findings suggest that families should be supported with more knowledge about the importance of expressing daily warmth to children in early childhood.

Direct and Indirect Effects of Remembered Parental Rejection on Media Use among Young Adults

Problematic media use has become commonplace in recent years, especially among adolescents and young adults. This study examined the association between problematic media use and parent-child relationship quality as mediated by social intimacy with best friends. Data from 228 university students between the ages of 19 through 26 years (Mage = 22.90) were collected. Measures used were the mother and father versions of the Adult Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (PARQ, short form), the Usage Subscale of the Media and Technology Usage and Attitude Scale, and the Miller Social Intimacy Scale. Results showed significant associations for both men and women among all the variables. This indicated that the more parental (maternal and paternal) rejection the young adults experienced in childhood the lower was their social intimacy with best friends, but the greater was their self-reported media and technology usage. Findings from hierarchical multiple regression analyses confirmed that remembered parental (both maternal and paternal) rejection had a strong direct effect on media and technology usage among both men and women. But the analyses also showed a significant indirect effect of low social intimacy with best friends on media and technology usage. The findings have implications for parents, teachers, educators, mental health professionals and policy makers.

Effects of Parental Acceptance-Rejection on Children's Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors: A Longitudinal, Multicultural Study.

Grounded in interpersonal acceptance-rejection theory, this study assessed children's (N=1,315) perceptions of maternal and paternal acceptance-rejection in nine countries (China, Colombia, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, the Philippines, Sweden, Thailand, and the United States) as predictors of children's externalizing and internalizing behaviors across ages 7-14 years. Parenting behaviors were measured using children's reports on the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire. Child externalizing and internalizing behaviors were measured using mother, father, and child reports on the Achenbach System of Empirically-Based Assessment. Using a multilevel modeling framework, we found that in cultures where both maternal and paternal indifference/neglect scores were higher than average-compared to other cultures -children's internalizing problems were more persistent. At the within-culture level, all four forms of maternal and paternal rejection (i.e., coldness/lack of affection, hostility/aggression, indifference/neglect, and undifferentiated rejection) were independently associated with both externalizing and internalizing problems across ages 7-14 even after controlling for child gender, parent education, and each of the four forms of parental rejection. Results demonstrate that the effects of perceived parental acceptance-rejection are panculturally similar.

Relations Between Bicultural Attitudes, Paternal Versus Maternal Acceptance, and Psychological Adjustment of Ethnic Minority Youth in Bangladesh

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of perceived paternal and maternal acceptance on the bicultural orientations and psychological adjustment of ethnic-minority young adults in Bangladesh. The study was based on a sample of 412 young adults (mean age 22 years), consisting of 40% women and 60% men from 18 tribal subgroups in Bangladesh. Measures used were Parental Acceptance–Rejection Questionnaire (PARQ), Bicultural Attitude Scale (BAS) and Personality Assessment Questionnaire (PAQ). Results showed that there are significant positive correlations between perceived parental (paternal and maternal) acceptance, heritage culture, and psychological adjustment of the respondents. Results further showed that perceived paternal acceptance has independent and stronger effect than perceived maternal acceptance on the bicultural orientations and psychological adjustment of the minority young adults in Bangladesh.

The Relationship Between Perceived Parental Rejection and Dating Anxiety: The Mediating Role of Interpersonal Cognitive Distortions

The aim of this study was to examine the mediating role of interpersonal cognitive distortions between perceived parental rejection and dating anxiety in emerging adults. The study also examined whether gender and grade level also differ in terms of dating anxiety. Participants were 574 (334 women, 240 men) university students studying in a state university in Turkey who were reached with stratified sampling method. The data were collected with Adult Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire- Short Form, Dating Anxiety Scale and Interpersonal Cognitive Distortions Scale. The results of the study showed positive correlations between perceived parental rejection and dating anxiety and interpersonal cognitive distortions. According to the path analysis results, interpersonal cognitive distortions were partial mediator in relationship between perceived maternal rejection and dating anxiety. However, it was found that paternal rejection had a direct effect on dating anxiety, and cognitive distortions did not have a mediating role on this relationship. It was found that dating anxiety did not differ significantly in terms of gender, while it differed in terms of grade level. Warmth and acceptance centred parent-child relationship can be considered as a protective factor that can increase the dating anxiety by increasing the cognitive distortions.

The relationship between preadoptive adversity and intercountry adoptees’ adjustment: A mediating or moderating role of adoptive parenting?

This study examined the association between preadoptive adversity and adoptees’ adjustment and whether this link was mediated and/or moderated by adoptive parents’ positive parenting. One hundred and four mother (Mage = 47.24; SD = 5.47; range 33–61) and father (Mage = 49.08; SD = 5.99; range 36–63) couples, parents of 138 children and adolescents adopted internationally, took part in the study. Preadoptive adversity was assessed by ad-hoc items developed for this study, positive parenting was measured by the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire, and adoptees’ adjustment was measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. A structural equation modeling approach was used to test mediation and moderation models. Children gender, age at adoption, and length of adoption as well as family socio-economic status were used as control variables. The results showed that a partial mediation model, including both a direct influence of preadoptive adversity on adoptees’ adjustment and an indirect relation through the mediation role of mothers’ (but not fathers’) positive parenting, had the best fit. No significant moderating effects of adoptive mothers’ and fathers’ positive parenting were evidenced in the link between preadoptive adversity and adoptees’ adjustment. Overall, the findings highlighted the crucial role of adoptive mothers’ parenting in partially explaining how preadoptive adversity is linked to adoptees’ adjustment, and underline the importance of pre-adoption parent training and post-adoption parent support as implications for adoption practice.