Attachment in a group of adult international adoptees
(2004) In Adoption Quarterly 8(2). p.1-25- Abstract
- The present study examines whether foreign adoptees differ from normative samples in adult attachment status, and explores within-group differences associated with (in)secure attachment status in adult adoptees. Forty adoptees, from a previously representative study of foreign adoptees in Sweden, were interviewed with the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI). In adition, they were questioned about issues related to identity and family history, and self-assessment instruments were used to assess self-esteem and mental health. Compared to norm groups, the adoptees did not differ significantly in attachment status. However, insecure attachment organization on the AAI was associated with late adoption and a desire to know more about one's... (More)
- The present study examines whether foreign adoptees differ from normative samples in adult attachment status, and explores within-group differences associated with (in)secure attachment status in adult adoptees. Forty adoptees, from a previously representative study of foreign adoptees in Sweden, were interviewed with the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI). In adition, they were questioned about issues related to identity and family history, and self-assessment instruments were used to assess self-esteem and mental health. Compared to norm groups, the adoptees did not differ significantly in attachment status. However, insecure attachment organization on the AAI was associated with late adoption and a desire to know more about one's biological roots. Late adoption, memories from the time before the adoption, divorce, lack of contact in the adoptive family with the child's origin, and a tendecy in adoptees not to think about their biological background, were all associated with unresolved/disorganized status with respect to loss or abuse. There was a n onsignificant tendency for secure attachment status to be associated with higher mental health and self-esteem than insecure attachment status. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/942116
- author
- Irhammar, Malin LU and Bengtsson, Hans LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2004
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- identity, adoptive families, attachment, adoptees
- in
- Adoption Quarterly
- volume
- 8
- issue
- 2
- pages
- 1 - 25
- publisher
- Haworth Press
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:34248609807
- ISSN
- 1544-452X
- DOI
- 10.1300/J145v08n02_01
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Department affilation moved from v1000887 (CED - Centre for Educational Development) to v1000942 (Division for Higher Education Development) on 2016-03-31 08:48:57.
- id
- b6299a92-12aa-4499-9397-76a0985723d1 (old id 942116)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 11:41:06
- date last changed
- 2022-01-26 08:44:50
@article{b6299a92-12aa-4499-9397-76a0985723d1,
abstract = {{The present study examines whether foreign adoptees differ from normative samples in adult attachment status, and explores within-group differences associated with (in)secure attachment status in adult adoptees. Forty adoptees, from a previously representative study of foreign adoptees in Sweden, were interviewed with the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI). In adition, they were questioned about issues related to identity and family history, and self-assessment instruments were used to assess self-esteem and mental health. Compared to norm groups, the adoptees did not differ significantly in attachment status. However, insecure attachment organization on the AAI was associated with late adoption and a desire to know more about one's biological roots. Late adoption, memories from the time before the adoption, divorce, lack of contact in the adoptive family with the child's origin, and a tendecy in adoptees not to think about their biological background, were all associated with unresolved/disorganized status with respect to loss or abuse. There was a n onsignificant tendency for secure attachment status to be associated with higher mental health and self-esteem than insecure attachment status.}},
author = {{Irhammar, Malin and Bengtsson, Hans}},
issn = {{1544-452X}},
keywords = {{identity; adoptive families; attachment; adoptees}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{2}},
pages = {{1--25}},
publisher = {{Haworth Press}},
series = {{Adoption Quarterly}},
title = {{Attachment in a group of adult international adoptees}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J145v08n02_01}},
doi = {{10.1300/J145v08n02_01}},
volume = {{8}},
year = {{2004}},
}