Nola L. Passmore

Reunions of Adoptees who have Met Both Birth Parents: Post- Reunion Relationships and Factors that Facilitate and Hinder the Reunion Process

Eighteen adoptees who had met both their birth mothers and birth fathers were surveyed in order to determine the types of post-reunion relationships they developed with each birth parent and the factors that facilitated or hindered their reunions. While adoptees were more likely to develop a personal rather than nonpersonal relationship with birth mothers, relationships with birth fathers were more evenly divided between personal and nonpersonal relationships. Thematic analysis revealed some similarities in the factors that influence reunions with each birth parent (e.g., birth parent characteristics, support from others), though some differences also emerged (e.g., reactions to pregnancy and relinquishment). Issues of kinship, identity, and family structure are discussed, along with implications for counseling.

Religious Issues in Counselling: Are Australian Psychologists "Dragging the Chain"?

While American psychologists have been making significant contributions regarding the best ways to deal with religious issues in counselling, Australian psychologists have generally been less active in stimulating debate, conducting research, and making clinical applications in this area. In this paper, it is argued that consideration of religious issues is an important aspect of therapy. In framing this discussion, consideration is given to boundaries and the task and role of the therapist. Suggestions are given for understanding value conflicts, implementing religion-accommodative techniques, networking with colleagues in the religious community, and training psychologists to sensitively deal with religious issues in therapy.

Depression, Emotional Arousability, and Perceptions of Parenting in Adult Adoptees and Non-Adoptees

Abstract Adult adoptees (n = 144) and non-adoptees (n = 131) were surveyed in order to investigate (1) the relative contributions of adoptive status and parental variables to measures of adjustment, and (2) possible differences between searching and non-searching adoptees. Parental variables were more important than adoptive status in predicting depression, though adoptive status and perceptions of parenting were both significant predictors of emotional arousability. Searchers reported lower levels of parental care, acceptance, and supervision than non-searchers. However, there was also variability among searchers depending on their motives for searching. Implications for counseling are discussed, particularly in relation to the diversity among adoptees.

Adoptees' relationship experiences post-reunion: Exploring the effects of interactions with biological relatives

The aim of the current study was to investigate the possible impact that openness and secrecy within adoptive families can have on the interpersonal relationships of adult adoptees. As part of a larger study, 144 adoptees completed a variety of relationship measures and questionnaires tapping openness/secrecy and parental characteristics within their adoptive families. Participants whose adoptive families were more open and honest tended to be closer to their adoptive parents and report that their parents had been more caring and less controlling. In contrast, those whose adoptive families were more secretive scored higher on measures of social and family loneliness, avoidant and anxious attachment, and risk in intimacy. Fifty-seven of the participants were interviewed further about their adoptive experiences and interpersonal relationships. Thematic analysis indicated that openness in adoptive families was helpful in providing adoptees with a model for their own interpersonal relationships and also in assisting adoptees with identity, search, and reunion issues. Conversely, secrecy in adoptive families often led to difficulties in relationships within the adoptive family and general identity and trust issues. Secrecy also seemed to impact negatively on search and reunion experiences. The implications of these findings for adoption practice and counselling will be discussed.Recent changes in adoption legislation and practice have provided adoptees with greater opportunities to search and be reunited with birth relatives. A thorough understanding of the relationship experiences an adoptee may encounter post-reunion is critical for counsellors seeking to provide support for adoptees during these search and reunion experiences. This paper examines the relationship benefits and difficulties associated with the broadening social network after a reunion. As part of a larger study, 57 adoptees were interviewed about their adoptive experiences and interpersonal relationships. Thematic analysis revealed several major themes associated with adoptees’ reunions: (a) potential issues in adapting to a new family, (b) difficulties experienced when attempting to negotiate family roles and set boundaries between family members, (c) positive and negative interactions between adoptive and biological families, and (d) benefits and difficulties that can affect significant others (e.g., romantic partners, children). Open communication, compatible personalities, and supportive adoptive parents were factors promoting a beneficial environment for adoptive and biological families post-reunion. Conversely, strong loyalties to the adoptive family, secrecy or withholding information about the reunion, and different needs or expectations of family members created difficulties within the broader social network. Recommendations for adoption practice and counselling will be discussed.

Openness and secrecy in adoptive families and possible effects on the interpersonal relationships of adult adoptees

The aim of the current study was to investigate the possible impact that openness and secrecy within adoptive families can have on the interpersonal relationships of adult adoptees. As part of a larger study, 144 adoptees completed a variety of relationship measures and questionnaires tapping openness/secrecy and parental characteristics within their adoptive families. Participants whose adoptive families were more open and honest tended to be closer to their adoptive parents and report that their parents had been more caring and less controlling. In contrast, those whose adoptive families were more secretive scored higher on measures of social and family loneliness, avoidant and anxious attachment, and risk in intimacy. Fifty-seven of the participants were interviewed further about their adoptive experiences and interpersonal relationships. Thematic analysis indicated that openness in adoptive families was helpful in providing adoptees with a model for their own interpersonal relationships and also in assisting adoptees with identity, search, and reunion issues. Conversely, secrecy in adoptive families often led to difficulties in relationships within the adoptive family and general identity and trust issues. Secrecy also seemed to impact negatively on search and reunion experiences. The implications of these findings for adoption practice and counselling will be discussed.Recent changes in adoption legislation and practice have provided adoptees with greater opportunities to search and be reunited with birth relatives. A thorough understanding of the relationship experiences an adoptee may encounter post-reunion is critical for counsellors seeking to provide support for adoptees during these search and reunion experiences. This paper examines the relationship benefits and difficulties associated with the broadening social network after a reunion. As part of a larger study, 57 adoptees were interviewed about their adoptive experiences and interpersonal relationships. Thematic analysis revealed several major themes associated with adoptees’ reunions: (a) potential issues in adapting to a new family, (b) difficulties experienced when attempting to negotiate family roles and set boundaries between family members, (c) positive and negative interactions between adoptive and biological families, and (d) benefits and difficulties that can affect significant others (e.g., romantic partners, children). Open communication, compatible personalities, and supportive adoptive parents were factors promoting a beneficial environment for adoptive and biological families post-reunion. Conversely, strong loyalties to the adoptive family, secrecy or withholding information about the reunion, and different needs or expectations of family members created difficulties within the broader social network. Recommendations for adoption practice and counselling will be discussed.

Relationships between adult attachment style, adoptees' motives for searching, and reunion satisfaction with birthmothers

Despite reports that adopted persons are destined for poor psychological and relational adjustment, this conclusion remains controversial. Previous research on this topic has been inconclusive, and has failed to provide a complex assessment of the predictors of adjustment. For instance, whether attachment security plays a key role in later relationship outcomes remains unresolved. This paper presents the results of a longitudinal study of adults who were adopted as infants, and a comparison sample of adults who grew up with both biological parents. Two research questions were addressed: differences in attachment security between the two samples, and the predictive relations between initial attachment scales and relationship variables (e.g., risk in intimacy, loneliness) assessed at follow-up. Attachment profiles at Time 1 indicated less security in the adopted sample than the comparison sample, and these differences were maintained at follow-up. However, adoptees who had not searched for birth relatives did not differ from the comparison sample. Although sample (adopted / comparison) was an important predictor of some relationship variables, it became less influential when attachment measures were included. Discussion focused on the complex factors that influence attachment security, and the need for in-depth study of the relational experiences of adopted people.The present study investigated the relationship between attachment styles and motives for searching among 109 adoptees who had searched for birth relatives. Searchers who had experienced face-to-face reunions with their birthmothers (n = 57) also completed items relating to their reunion satisfaction. Participants rated themselves on Bartholomew and Horowitz’s (1991) four attachment prototypes. They also completed the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ; Feeney, Noller, & Hanrahan, 1994) and the Motives for Searching Questionnaire, which identifies three search motives (i.e., searching to gain background information, to reconnect with birth relatives, and to resolve personal issues). While searching to reconnect with birth relatives and to resolve personal issues were both positively correlated with a preoccupied attachment style, differences also emerged between these two motives. Searching to reconnect with birth relatives was negatively correlated with a dismissing attachment style, while those who searched to resolve personal issues had a greater need for approval and less emotional closeness with their birthmothers. A secure attachment style was generally associated with better reunion outcomes, while those who saw relationships as secondary or had a higher need for approval were more likely to experience some negative reunion outcomes. Implications for counselling are discussed.

Adoption, adult attachment security, and relationship outcomes

Despite reports that adopted persons are destined for poor psychological and relational adjustment, this conclusion remains controversial. Previous research on this topic has been inconclusive, and has failed to provide a complex assessment of the predictors of adjustment. For instance, whether attachment security plays a key role in later relationship outcomes remains unresolved. This paper presents the results of a longitudinal study of adults who were adopted as infants, and a comparison sample of adults who grew up with both biological parents. Two research questions were addressed: differences in attachment security between the two samples, and the predictive relations between initial attachment scales and relationship variables (e.g., risk in intimacy, loneliness) assessed at follow-up. Attachment profiles at Time 1 indicated less security in the adopted sample than the comparison sample, and these differences were maintained at follow-up. However, adoptees who had not searched for birth relatives did not differ from the comparison sample. Although sample (adopted / comparison) was an important predictor of some relationship variables, it became less influential when attachment measures were included. Discussion focused on the complex factors that influence attachment security, and the need for in-depth study of the relational experiences of adopted people.The present study investigated the relationship between attachment styles and motives for searching among 109 adoptees who had searched for birth relatives. Searchers who had experienced face-to-face reunions with their birthmothers (n = 57) also completed items relating to their reunion satisfaction. Participants rated themselves on Bartholomew and Horowitz’s (1991) four attachment prototypes. They also completed the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ; Feeney, Noller, & Hanrahan, 1994) and the Motives for Searching Questionnaire, which identifies three search motives (i.e., searching to gain background information, to reconnect with birth relatives, and to resolve personal issues). While searching to reconnect with birth relatives and to resolve personal issues were both positively correlated with a preoccupied attachment style, differences also emerged between these two motives. Searching to reconnect with birth relatives was negatively correlated with a dismissing attachment style, while those who searched to resolve personal issues had a greater need for approval and less emotional closeness with their birthmothers. A secure attachment style was generally associated with better reunion outcomes, while those who saw relationships as secondary or had a higher need for approval were more likely to experience some negative reunion outcomes. Implications for counselling are discussed.