Exploring the Family Context Among Children Adopted From China: Perceptions of Pre-Adoption Factors, Post-Adoption Experiences, and the Quality of Parent-Child Relationships

Within the context of international adoption, previous research has focused on parentchild attachment relationships and various aspects ofthe adoption process. However, less is known about other aspects of parent-child relationships (e.g., cohesion, conflict) within internationally adoptive families. Additionally, there is a need for research that explores both parent and child perceptions of the process of adoption including preand postadoptive factors and its connection to the quality of parent-child relationships. This research utilized a qualitatively-oriented methodology to conduct separate, in-depth interviews with] 0 adoptive Canadian mothers and their adopted Chinese children (aged 9 to 11 years). Results highlight parent and child reports ofmain'ly strong, positive relationships. Several pre-adoption experiences are examined, including institutionalization, age at the time of adoption, and parental stress/expectations. A key finding concerns the link that adoptive parents perceive between the quality of their child's pre-adoptive care (i.e., mainly early institutionalized care) and the quality oftheir relationship. Interestingly, this link is perceived in two different ways either as a challenge for the parent-child relationship or as a means to strengthen it. Post-adoption experiences are also explored, including cultural socialization, creating a transracial family, discussing adoption, parental stress, and sibling involvement. A key finding involves parent and child reports that cultural socialization efforts (i.e., familiarizing children with Chinese culture) are linked to more positive parent-child relationships. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to theory and practice within the context of international adoption. Acknowledgements The completion ofthis thesis would not have been possible without the help and support of many people. To my supervisor, Dr. Christine Tardif-Williams, I cannot thank you enough for all of your hard work and dedication to this project. I appreciate your commitment in assisting me each and every step of the way, both as a research mentor and role model. Working with you has been a wonderful experience, and I will miss our weekly meetings and numerous emails. Thank you for everything! To my committee members, Dr. Danny Tarulli and Dr. Dawn Zinga, thank you both so much for your thorough and constructive feedback over the last year. Your suggestions allowed for me to reflect on my writing and improve the quality of my research overall. I appreciate the time and effort you put into assisting me throughout this process. I This study could not have taken place without the Director ofthe adoption agency that assisted me with recruitment. Thank you for working with me so diligently I could not have completed this research without your support. To the families who participated in this study, thank you! Your willingness to share your time and personal experiences allowed me to learn so much, and this study would not have been possible without you. I would also like to thank my research assistant, lenn, for taking the time to travel with me and visit each family. Thank you for listening so attentively throughout each interview. Your support and willingness to help was greatly appreciated! Finally, to my parents, family, and friends, I am so grateful for your love and encouragement throughout the completion of this study. You were there to understand and share in the excitement of research that I am so passionate about, and I thank you all for supporting me throughout the entire process! This study is dedicated to Mischa and Tasha you are the inspiration behind this research and I am so grateful for the wonderful gift you have brought to our family.