This study examines adoptive adolescents and their relationships with their adoptive parents. The adolescents in this study were adopted from the child welfare system and therefore experienced various stressors throughout their lifetime that are uncommon to other adolescents their age. These stressors include being removed from their biological home, having numerous placements, and possibly being separated from their siblings. Due to these stressors, many adopted adolescents may be left without social supports. This study draws upon previous research, presents a Systematic Research Synthesis (SRS) and builds upon a previous stress-coping model in order to further examine specific variables that affect this population. These variables include personal factors, stressors, and adoptive parent-child relationships. The moderating/buffering effect of social supports is also investigated through an examination of the interaction between three forms of social supports (i.e., family, friends, significant others) and stressors. The analyses that were utilized within this study include t-tests and Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE). This study examines 335 adopted adolescents and their adoptive parents. It is based on the first wave of a three-year longitudinal study. The data are drawn from two separate surveys that were completed by adoptive parents and adopted adolescents. The present study found that adolescents adopted when older had significantly more behavioral and educational needs than adolescents adopted when younger. Also, support from family and significant others were found to be significant while support from friends was not. Although these social supports were found to be significant, an interaction effect with the stressors was not found to be significant. Finally, the adolescents' educational and behavioral needs were found to be significant predictors of their relationships with their adoptive parents. / A Dissertation submitted to the College of Social Work in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester, 2006. / June 26, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references. / Scott D. Ryan, Professor Directing Dissertation; Pamela Perrewé, Outside Committee Member; C. Aaron McNeece, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_181841 |
| Contributors | Johnson, Lisa Barbanell (authoraut), Ryan, Scott D. (professor directing dissertation), Perrewé, Pamela (outside committee member), McNeece, C. Aaron (committee member), College of Social Work (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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