Adoption disclosure and behavioral adjustment of domestic adoptees in India

Abstract

The current study examined the relationship between adoption disclosure and adoptive family adjustment (i.e. children’s problem behaviors and the parent–child relationship) among 55 Indian domestic adoptive parents. The results showed that informing the child of the adoption was not significantly related to problem behaviors or to parent–child relationship. Multiple regression analysis indicated that importance of social disclosure, stronger parent–child relationship, and self-esteem of adoptive parents significantly predicted fewer behavioral problems in children. Post-adoption support should be provided to adoptive families in the form of parental training on issues related to adoption, child development, and how to properly disclose the adoption details to the child.