Kohn-Willbridge, Charmaine, Pike, Alison and De Visser, Richard (2021) ‘Look after me too’: a qualitative exploration of the transition into adoptive motherhood. Adoption and Fostering, 45 (3). pp. 300-315. ISSN 0308-5759

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Abstract

This qualitative retrospective recall study utilised nine in-depth, semi-structured interviews with adoptive mothers involved with an online support group often used by adoptive parents facing difficulties. The aim was to explore their transition to adoptive motherhood. The study was unusual because it covered a lengthy period, from pre-adoption and the motivation to adopt to 12 months post child placement and used Reflexive Thematic Analysis to analyse the data. Findings include the mothers’ sense of misaligned expectation, uncertainty, powerlessness, isolation, and emotional and physical fatigue. The most prominent findings centred on the high level of mental health issues reported by the mothers which included post-adoption depression, anxiety and trauma. New insights are discussed along with implications for future research and practice, along with the limitations of the study.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Mental Health, Vaccine Related, Behavioral and Social Science, Mind and Body, Depression, Mental health
Schools and Departments:	Brighton and Sussex Medical School > Primary Care and Public Health School of Psychology > Psychology
SWORD Depositor:	Mx Elements Account
Depositing User:	Mx Elements Account
Date Deposited:	20 Jun 2022 20:54
Last Modified:	22 Aug 2022 09:06
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/106506

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