When people adopted from severely depriving institutions become parents: The experiences of young adult mothers from the ERA study and their adoptive parents

Abstract

It has been reported that adult adoptees with histories of maltreatment face particular challenges when they become parents. Here we explore this issue using a qualitative analysis of the views of 14 adoptee mothers, who suffered severe institutional deprivation in the Romanian orphanages of the late 1980s before being adopted into the UK, and their adoptive parents. Following a thematic analysis, we report several perceived benefits of becoming a parent, as well as co-occurring difficulties and challenges. Benefits included a sense of accomplishment and fulfilment, feeling more motivated personally and professionally and the positive experience of having a relationship with a biological relative. Challenges related, in particular, to some adoptee parents’ abilities to appraise risk relating to their children and to difficulties in organising day-to-day activities. Practical and emotional support from adoptive grandparents was very often crucial for adoptee parents’ success and wellbeing. Implications for research and practice are discussed, emphasising that deprivation-related difficulties expand into adulthood and for some can impact their ability to parent. Plain Language Summary Care-experienced individuals are at an increased risk of having their own children taken into care. The reasons for this are currently not clear, but questions have been raised about the importance of early adversity versus a continuation of adversity, unfortunately commonly experienced by care leavers. The English and Romanian Adoptees (ERA) study has followed the progress of individuals who were adopted into high functioning homes following a period of early deprivation. Last assessed in young adulthood, 20% have become parents and in the current study, these parents, and their adoptive (grand)parents, were interviewed. Most parents reported no areas of difficulty and for them, becoming a parent had been a globally positive experience, which included a closer sense of connectivity, a sense of fulfilment and a greater sense of motivation. However, significant difficulties in providing childcare were experienced by around a fifth of the group, often resulting in care proceedings. Areas of difficulties appeared to revolve around appraising and responding to risk. Consequently, the adoptive grandparents were an important source of day-to-day support. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.