An empirical analysis of factors affecting adolescent attachment in adoptive families with homosexual and straight parents

Data were collected on 154 adoptive families with gay/lesbian and straight adoptive parents (154 parent respondents and 210 adolescent respondents). This study was principally interested in factors affecting adolescent attachment including parent sexual orientation, adolescent and parent life satisfaction, and parent level of relationship satisfaction with their adopted child as well as other key parent, child and adoption characteristics. The results suggest that higher level of adopted adolescent attachment to parents is not related to adoptive parent sexual orientation. Adolescent attachment to parents is related to adolescent life satisfaction; parent level of relationship satisfaction with their adopted child, number of placements prior to adoption, and adolescent's current age. Adolescent life satisfaction, like level of attachment is an indicator of youth well-being. This variable was found to have a significant relationship with parent level of relationship satisfaction with their adopted child. The results also indicated parent's level of relationship satisfaction with their adopted child was related to parent life satisfaction. The variable child's age at adoption was found to have significant relationships with parent life satisfaction, parent's level of relationship satisfaction with their adopted child, and number of placements prior to adoption. Implications for policy, practice, education and further research are discussed.

本研究旨在探讨被领养的青少年与其父母（同性恋/双性恋或异性恋）及同伴之间的依附关系，同时分析可能影响青少年依附关系的因素。研究背景聚焦于同性恋和双性恋成人或伴侣在收养过程中面临的不平等待遇及法律限制，并关注随着社会对同性恋收养态度的逐渐改善，青少年依附关系的变化。

本研究采用量化方法，调查了青少年与其收养父母及同伴之间的依附关系。研究样本包括154名收养父母及210名被收养的青少年，数据收集通过在线或纸质问卷完成。问卷分为三部分：收养父母的基本信息、父母对子女的评估、以及青少年对自身及家庭关系的评估。研究工具包括修订版的《堪萨斯婚姻满意度量表》（KMS）、《生活满意度量表》（SWLS）、《父母与同伴依附问卷》（IPPA）及社会期望性量表。这些量表经过适当修改以适应多样化的家庭结构，并通过统计分析评估父母及青少年的依附关系、婚姻/伴侣满意度及生活满意度。

本研究发现，被收养青少年对父母的依附关系以及其生活满意度与父母的性取向（同性恋/异性恋）无显著关联。无论父母性取向如何，青少年与父母的依附关系和生活满意度均呈现积极结果。研究还表明，青少年的依附关系与其被收养前的经历密切相关，例如在被收养前的安置次数和被收养时的年龄，均对依附关系和家庭满意度产生负面影响。此外，父母与子女关系的满意度与父母自身的生活满意度呈正相关。研究支持同性恋父母养育子女不会对青少年的福祉产生负面影响，并呼吁消除针对同性恋收养的法律和社会歧视，为更多等待被收养的儿童提供稳定的家庭环境。