Contributos para o estudo dos desafios e satisfações da parentalidade adoptiva

Abstract

To be a father or a mother is now attainable not alone by biological parenthood: new ways of getting a familyare being developed, and adoption is one of them. As a matter of fact, parenthood in general implies a lot of challenges and satisfactions. However, the literature on adoption is mainly centered on tha challenges it raises. The present study tries to answer three main objectives: to identify and understand which factors play a role in challenge and satisfaction inherent to adoptive parenthood, and to understand the parents’ perception regarding the support received by the family al-large. This study takes on two important phases: the process of adoption and adoptive parentood. It started as a qualitative study, so data were collected through a semi-structured interview designed specifically for this research. Data were collected in 6 participants, aged 37-41 years and selected according to the following criteria: adoption process ended more than 1 year, and adopted children now in the pre-scolar or in the 1st cycle of basic school. The main results stress the satisfactions inherent to the process of adoption, the satisfactions and full personal realization through adoptive parenthood, and the support received from the the family-at-large. In this study, the results are at variance with what is mentioned in the literature. Based upon the results obtained, clinical implication are discussed and venues for future researc are suggested.

Date of Award	Jul 2012
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Mariana Negrão (Supervisor)