A Mindfulness approach to adoptive parents’ psychological and parenting functioning

The adoption literature has been focused on children’s development and mental health, their capacity to recover from adversity, and the processes explaining their adjustment. Despite the undeniable value of this body of research, less attention has been paid to the psychological and parenting functioning of adoptive parents. These parents face specific developmental challenges that make them vulnerable to depression, anxiety, stress, and difficulties in being emphatic, sensitive, confident, and efficient in managing children´s behavior. According to several Portuguese and international studies, these issues may greatly impact on parent-child relationships and children’s development. However, the characteristics and processes that explain the psychological and parental functioning of adoptive parents have been poorly studied. Also, the psychological interventions available to these parents in the post-adoption period are scarce, mostly with no theoretical background or solid evidence of efficacy.

Mindful parenting interventions have been effective in promoting the quality of psychological and parenting functioning within a range of adverse contexts. Focusing attention on the present moment, with an attitude of non-judgmental acceptance, parents could achieve greater sensitivity to the child’s cue, acceptance of the self and the child, compassion for both, and self-regulation, thus promoting their mental health, the quality of parent-child relationships and children’s healthy development. Preliminary studies on adoptive parenthood suggest that this may be a promising approach to understand and intervene in the post-adoption period.

Therefore, our research project aims to: 1) characterize the psychological and parenting functioning of Portuguese adoptive parents, 2) explore individual, relational, and contextual factors that could explain their difficulties, and 3) investigate the acceptability, feasibility, efficacy, and therapeutic mechanisms of a mindful parenting post-adoption intervention.

In addition to provide a better understanding about poorly studied topics, the ultimate goal of this project is to address the real needs of the target population and contribute to the mission and sustainability of the Portuguese Child Protection System (law 143/2015). We intend to do that through the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge that can support and guide effective and potentially cost-effective post-adoption psychological interventions.