Beyond Ethiopia: Ethiopian Adoptees’ Experiences of Attachment After Adoption
Date
2019
Authors
Winkenweder, Hilina Grace
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Abstract
There has been increasing acknowledgement of the potential effect of attachment on the health and wellbeing of both adoptees and adoptive parents. However, there remain some gaps in the literature, particularly in relation to certain groups of children. One such gap concerns how Ethiopian adoptees form attachments with their adoptive parents. Using a qualitative research design, this study investigated how Ethiopian adoptees experience attachment to their adoptive parents after adoption, and how adequately support services help to facilitate secure attachment within these relationships. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight Ethiopian adoptees and eight adoptive parents (including two parent-child dyads) in order to triangulate the data. Thematic analysis returned 10 themes, categorized into three sections, based on the aims of the study. Results indicated that attachment experiences were affected by the following: age at adoption; development of anxiety and survival mechanisms; access to biological family; and identity formation. Perceptions of support adequacy were varied, with most participants agreeing that informal support superseded formal support in terms of efficacy. This research may contribute to better understanding of Ethiopian adoptees’ attachment patterns, and improve support services for these adoptees and their families, particularly in relation to post-adoption attachment.
Keywords: attachment, Ethiopia, international adoption
School/Discipline
School of Psychology
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Thesis (B.PsychSc(Hons)) -- University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2019
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