Attachment facilitating behaviors in parent-child interactions and parental reflective function in adoptive families

Abstract

While research into adopted children and their new families is abundant, studies exploring interactions in their relationship are more uncommon. Few studies have specifically analyzed the interactions between adoptive parents and adopted children. This work studies parent-child interaction in a sample of adoptive and non-adoptive dyads, as well as the relationships between attachment facilitating parental behaviors and parental reflective  function in adoptive families. Through a co-construction task and an interview, 88 dyads were assessed. The data showed noteworthy similarities between the two groups and a significantly greater presence of some attachment facilitating behaviors in the adoptive dyads. Also, significant correlations were found between attachment facilitating parental behaviors, observed during parent-child interactions. Finally, a more positive parental reflective thinking about the adopted children and their relationship with them appeared to be associated with a higher number of attachment facilitating behaviors in the interaction.