SASS Staff
Publication details for Dr Christine Jones
Jones, C. & Hackett, J. (2008). Communicative openness within adoptive families: adoptive parents’ narrative accounts of the challenges of adoption talk and the approaches used to manage these challenges. Adoption Quarterly 10(3-4): 157-178.- Publication type: Journal papers: academic
- ISSN/ISBN: 1092-6755, 1544-452X
- DOI: 10.1080/10926750802163238
- Keywords: Adoptive parents, Open adoption, openness, Adoption communication.
- View online: Online version
- Durham research online: DRO record
Author(s) from Durham
Abstract
Policy and practice relating to openness in adoption have changed substantially in the last 30 years. There is a growing body of empirical research that supports both structural and communicative openness, and there is widespread consensus that communicative openness is desirable within adoptive families. Despite this, there is evidence that some adoptive parents and their adopted children struggle to achieve the level of communicative openness to which they aspire. This paper presents data from a small-scale exploratory study of adoptive family life. It draws on the narrative accounts of adoptive mothers and fathers to explore some of the sensitivities of adoption talk, the communication challenges experienced by adoptive parents, and the ways that adopters manage these challenges. Finally, some suggestions are made for practice.