Predictors of psychological adjustment in early placed adopted children with lesbian, gay, and heterosexual parents.

Little research has focused on predictors of psychological adjustment among early placed adopted children. Additionally, the research on adopted children in lesbian or gay parent-families is sparse. The current study examined 40 female same-sex, 35 male same-sex, and 45 different-sex parent families with adopted children, all of whom were placed in their adoptive homes under the age of 18 months. We explored aspects of children’s preadoptive and postadoptive contexts (measured at 3 months postplacement) in relation to children’s externalizing and internalizing symptoms (measured at 2 years postplacement; M age= 2.33 years). Findings revealed that lack of parental preparation for the adoption, and parental depressive symptoms, were associated with higher parent-reported levels of both externalizing and internalizing symptoms. Additionally, parents’ relationship conflict was associated with higher levels of parent-and partner-reported internalizing symptoms. Children’s adjustment outcomes did not differ by family type. Our findings point to the importance of considering the adoptive family context (including parent and couple subsystems) in predicting later adjustment in early placed adopted children, in diverse family contexts

本研究的研究问题集中于探讨早期安置的被收养儿童心理适应的预测因素，尤其是不同类型家庭（女性同性、男性同性和异性父母家庭）中的被收养儿童。研究旨在了解儿童在收养前和收养后（安置后3个月）经历的家庭背景如何影响其心理适应表现（外化与内化症状），并在安置后2年进行评估

本研究采用纵向研究设计，考察120对首次收养儿童的双亲家庭（包括40对女性同性、35对男性同性和45对异性伴侣家庭）的收养前后背景与儿童心理适应之间的关系。样本中的所有家庭均为首次成为父母，且仅收养了一名儿童。研究通过全美范围内的收养机构和全国性同性恋组织招募参与者，招募时夫妻处于等待收养的阶段。参与者完成了两轮数据收集：安置后3个月的问卷和电话访谈，以及安置后2年的后续问卷和访谈。访谈单独进行，持续1–1.5小时。样本具有较高的社会经济地位，大多数父母为白人，而被收养的儿童多为有色人种（非白人或混血儿童）。研究对家庭的经济状况、种族构成及法律收养情况等变量进行了描述性分析，同时对儿童的适应结果进行多元分析。

本研究发现，在18个月前被收养的儿童中，早期的收养前经历（如多次安置）并未显著预测儿童的早期适应性表现。相反，积极的收养家庭环境（如父母对收养的充分准备和低冲突的亲子关系）与儿童更积极的情绪和行为调整有关。尽管家庭类型（同性或异性父母）未对儿童适应性产生显著影响，但父母的抑郁症状和家庭冲突与儿童的内部化和外部化问题呈显著相关。研究结果表明，通过加强父母的收养准备、改善心理健康和促进亲密关系，可以有效支持儿童的积极发展。这些发现为收养实践提供了有价值的指导。