Adjustment of adopted children and demographic profile of adoptive parents.
Using 51 manifestations of childhood dysfunction as index of adjustment, the relationship was investigated of 9 demographic characteristics of applicants for adoption to the adjustment of children, when aged 7 to 7 1/2 years, whom they had adopted. 'Good adjustment' was associated with the father having at least completed high school, having a non-manual occupation and an above median income. There was a trend for it to be also associated with the mother having at least completed high school, being under 30 years of age, and with the couple's non-committal on (i.e., not outright rejection of) the possibility of adopting a hard to place child. The findings were discussed critically and it was concluded that the study demonstrated the feasibility of establishing objective empirical criteria for the selection of adoption applicants.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000300:Adoption; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology; D001290:Attitude; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D009790:Occupations; D010290:Parents; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors