Relations between Children’s and Parents’ Behavior in Adoptive Families – A Longitudinal Analysis

Abstract Despite decades of research on adopted children’s development, little research has examined the mutual relationship between children’s and parents’ post-adoption behavior. The current study used data from a longitudinal study to examine transactional processes between children’s psychosocial adjustment, parenting styles, and parenting stress in a sample of 67 adoptive families. Children’s early behavioral problems predicted later positive parenting, inconsistent parenting, and parenting stress. The findings underline the importance of pre-adoption training for adoptive parents, realistic information on adoptees’ adjustment problems, and continuous post-adoption support.