| The rise in the number of families in the United States choosing international adoption has created increased interest in the development and needs of these children who were adopted from overseas orphanages. Considerable research has been done on how the probable neglect, abuse, abandonment, and inconsistent caregiving that these children received prior to adoption has affected them developmentally and psychologically. However, there is a lack of literature on how these challenges have affected the adoptive parents of these children. Through the methodological use of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) originated by Smith, Flowers and Larkin (2009), this study explored the perceptions of the adoptive parents as they faced the challenges to meet their child's needs through face-to-face interviews with the primary caregiver. Results reported the importance of attachment and bonding, parental support systems within the family and in the community as well as the need for adoption competent therapists to work with these families. These self-reported experiences could assist in furthering the understanding of the needs of these children and their families for the therapeutic community and allow for parents of international adoptees to have more parenting support and resources in the future. |
