What Factors Influence Attachment In Adopted Children?

Why is it important to talk about affection in adopted children? Because all adopted children experience certain experiences during the first years of their lives that can hinder their development – experiences that other children do not have to experience.

These experiences can lead to worrying behavior in adopted children. Some are too dependent on their parents, while some become mentally distant. Continue reading the article to find out these reasons.

What are the variables that affect attachment in adopted children?

Adoptive children experience difficult situations before moving to a new family, and these situations are unusual in their age. Some of these situations play a significant role in the development of their attachment.

A child is less likely to develop a secure attachment relationship with adoptive parents if he or she has experienced violence or neglect in his or her previous family, orphanage, or foster family.

During the first years of life,  children need adults around them who effectively respond to their needs for support and intimacy. If the child’s caregiver doesn’t care about the child, or if he or she responds aggressively to the child, the child becomes anxious and fearful of the person who should make the child feel safe. This will affect the child’s relationship in the future.

The same thing happens when a child has been placed in a facility for a long time. Today, there are many laws that prevent orphanages from mistreating children. However, this does not mean that orphanages can meet all the psychological and psychological needs that are so critical at this age. This has a direct effect on attachment in adopted children.

Although children are physically cared for,  orphanages usually have only one guardian for many children. Thus, the caregiver has difficulty caring for the children mentally.

What can adoptive parents do to encourage a secure affection?

While adoptive parents cannot influence these past experiences, is there anything they can do to ensure proper social and emotional development in their children? Of course. Parental behavior and personalities play a fundamental role in the development of attachment. 

The variables that encourage safe attachment in adopted children are:

• Emotional stability
• Stress tolerance
• Flexibility
• An appropriate expression of love

In other words,  adoptive parents should be mature and have secure attachment relationships with themselves. In this way, they can help their children by leading by example.

Adoptive parents should have the resources to face difficulties, regulate their negative emotions positively, and be able to ask for help when they need it. When they ask for help, they should never feel like they are bad parents. Transparency in asking for help shows children the importance of emotional control. 

This will also help them understand and connect with adoption. This is really important because many adopted children feel guilty, insignificant, and a sense of being rejected. If an adopted child can change his or her perspective, he or she may develop a safer affection.

Photos by Rene Bernal, Larm Rmahill and Ben White.