Child Socio-Emotional Well-Being and Parent Strain in Kinship Versus Non-Kinship Adoptive Families

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 4
  In Poster Session: Division E Poster Session: Contemporary Perspectives in Human Development (San Diego)

Abstract

The study aimed to examine child socio-emotional wellbeing and caregiver’s strains for kinship versus non-kinship adoptive families. Total 847 caregivers from 847 adoptive/guardianship families in North Dakota completed the North Dakota Permanency Survey online via Qualtrics in fall 2020. We performed independent t test to examine mean differences of child socio-emotional wellbeing and caregiver strains between kinship and non-kinship adoptive families. The results indicated that children in non-kinship adoptive families had better socio-emotional wellbeing than those in kinship families. And, caregivers in kinship adoptions reported higher strains than non-kinship caregivers. Kinship adopters may proceed adoption because a sense of obligation and may not actually be prepared or resourced adequately. Additional supports (e.g. boundaries setting, trauma-informed practices) should be enhanced.

Author

• Yi-Ping Hsieh, University of North Dakota