Research That Matters (January 17 - 20, 2008)

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to improve our understanding of the family and child characteristics that underlie successful adoptions from foster care by using a non-linear research methodology called decision tree analysis. METHODS: The 161 families in the AdoptUsKids research project were asked to select either their most challenging child or the child who was oldest at time of placement to be the “focus” of the study. Fifty percent of the chosen children had been placed in the adoptive home after age 6. Fifty-eight percent of the children were described as difficult to parent. At the time of the study, the children were an average of 12.6 years old. Families were sorted into three groups: 1) those that currently had a good relationship with their adopted child and felt the adoption was positive for their families (Group1, N=91); 2) those that had a good relationship, but viewed the adoption as mixed or negative for their families, (Group 2, N=26); 3) those who had a fair relationship with their child and felt the adoption was mixed or negative for their families, (Group 3, N=16). The three groups had statistically different mean Parenting Stress Index (PSI) scores for the factor “reinforces parent.” Families in Groups 1-3 had mean stress scores of 10.9, 14.8 and 17.8 respectively. RESULTS: Six decision rules were identified which classified 81.5% of families correctly. The rules best fit Group 1, the most successful adoptions, by predicting 91% of the cases correctly. The rules fit Group 3, the least successful adoptions, next at 75%. Group 2, the middle group, was the most difficult to predict with only 53.8% of the cases correctly predicted. The rules were: 1) Children whose behaviors were easy or medium were in Group 1. 2) Children whose behaviors were difficult, but NOT worse than the parents' expectations, and the behavior problems did NOT include attachment/affection issues, went to Group 1. 3) Children whose behaviors were difficult, and WORSE than the parents' expectations, and the behavior problems did NOT include attachment/affection issues and the family did not have a college degree, went to Group 1. 4) Children whose behaviors were difficult, and WORSE than the parents' expectations, and the behavior problems did NOT include attachment/affection issues and someone in the family had a college degree, went to Group 2. 5) Children whose behaviors were difficult and INCLUDED attachment/affection issues and the children were currently OLDER than age 10, went to Group 3. 6) Children whose behaviors were difficult and INCLUDED attachment/affection issues, but were UNDER age 11, went to Group 2. IMPLICATIONS: Families adopting children with difficult behavior problems and at older ages can have successful adoptions. Families, especially those with college degrees, must have a good understanding of what problems to expect and the adopted children must be able to attach to a new family. This suggests the need for good training and developing the children's abilities to build healthy relationships while they are in foster care.