The motivations and decision-making processes of parents who adopt older children

Palmer, Claire Elizabeth; Coffey, Amanda; Rees, Alyson

Abstract

This article explores the motivations and decision-making processes of parents who adopt older children from the UK care system. It draws on interview data from parents from 14 adoptive families to consider what influenced their decision to adopt an older child. Data were analysed thematically, and the analysis was theoretically informed by the concept of adoption as a ‘marketplace’. The study shows how prospective adoptive parents can be influenced in their decision-making by the information they have been given or perceive about the state of the adoption marketplace and indicates that making choices and decisions around the characteristics of future children is often an uncomfortable aspect of the process. The participants cited moral reasoning and notions of fate as key factors influencing their decisions. The article concludes by making recommendations for practice.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 23, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jun 15, 2023
• Publication Date: Jul 31, 2023
• Deposit Date: Aug 30, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 29, 2023
• Journal: Adoption and Fostering
• Print ISSN: 0308-5759
• Electronic ISSN: 1740-469X
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 47
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 211-228
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/03085759231174906
• Keywords: Law, Sociology and Political Science, Social Psychology, Health (social science)
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10900337