Adolescents’ perceptions of family relationships in adoptees and non-adoptees: More similarities than differences

Abstract

This research explores adopted adolescents’ perceptions of family relationships, without focusing on typical clinical issues in which they tend to stand out negatively in comparison to non-adopted adolescents. Differences between adopted and non-adopted adolescents were analysed according to the following family dimensions: paternal affection, maternal affection, communication with the father, communication with the mother, family support and family satisfaction. Furthermore, differences between domestic and intercountry adoptees were also explored. The sample included 28,768 adolescents, aged eleven to eighteen years old, who participated in the 2014 Spanish edition of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, of whom 394 were adopted and 28,374 non-adopted. Results showed no differences in affection, communication and support. However, statistically significant differences and a considerable effect size were found in family satisfaction. Two multiple linear regression models were made to explore the roles of family dimensions in the family satisfaction structure. Data show paternal dimensions, especially communication with the father, were more relevant for adoptees’ family satisfaction than for non-adoptees. Additionally, our results varied greatly between domestic versus intercountry adoptees. In conclusion, adopted and non-adopted adolescents are more similar than different in their family perception; however, the adoptive father plays a greater role for adoptees.