Adoption and attachment: a study of attachment in young adult adoptees

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorViolato, Claudio
dc.contributor.authorPaperny, Raechelle D.
dc.date.accessioned2005-08-08T19:50:16Z
dc.date.available2005-08-08T19:50:16Z
dc.date.issued2003
dc.descriptionBibliography: p. 87-97en
dc.description.abstractExtrapolating from the central tenets of attachment theory and research, the present study investigated the implications for the adoption experience on the developing security and pattern of attachment relationships. Differences between adoptee and non-adoptee attachment classifications were explored, and classification differences were analyzed based on their relationship with demographic and theoretically relevant variables. A sample of 34 late adolescent to young-adult adoptee volunteers (20 females, 14 males), ranging from 17 to 32 years of age, were recruited. They were administered the Adult Attachment Interview, the Adult Attachment Projective, and asked questions relating to their adoptions. The sample's distribution of Adult Attachment Projective classifications was compared to norms of community and clinical samples. Consistent with the implications from attachment theory and research, the adoptee distribution differed significantly from that expected for a non-adopted, non-clinical sample (p:S.0001). Furthermore, several features of the distribution pattern were also consistent with projections from attachment theory and research. First, the rate of secure or Autonomous attachment is significantly lower than expected (E) (15%, E = 52%). Second, Dismissing attachment, the most common form of insecurity in normative samples, is nearly absent in this sample (6%, E = 18%). Third, both the Preoccupied (47%, E = 11 %) and the atypical Unresolved/Disorganized (32%, E = 19%) attachment classifications are overrepresented in this sample relative to the comparison norms. These adoptees resembled a clinical sample in their distribution of attachment patterns. Between classification group differences were analyzed by examining their relationship with the following variables: age, gender, age at adoption, professional status, relationship status, parenting status, search for birth family/outcome, counseling experience, and subsequent threats to attachm~nt (loss, trauma, abuse, rejection, and separation). None of these analyses supported an association between any of the independent variables and classification group differences. The findings from this study support the theory that adoptees are at greater risk for insecure attachments than their non-adopted counterparts. It is recommended that future studies make further attempts to identify the source/s of these differences.
dc.format.extentvii, 112 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.en
dc.identifier.citationPaperny, R. D. (2003). Adoption and attachment: a study of attachment in young adult adoptees (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/21315en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/21315
dc.identifier.isbn0612870677en
dc.identifier.lccAC1 .T484 2003 P367en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/39839
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.titleAdoption and attachment: a study of attachment in young adult adoptees
dc.typedoctoral thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineApplied Psychology
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
ucalgary.thesis.accessionTheses Collection 58.002:Box 1463 520708898
ucalgary.thesis.additionalcopy370 EDC 2003 PAPen
ucalgary.thesis.notesUARCen
ucalgary.thesis.uarcreleaseyen
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
thesis_Paperny_2003.pdf
Size:
54.68 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Thesis
Download
Collections
Legacy Theses