The expectancy phase in adoptive parents-to-be: Parental bonding representations, romantic attachment style, and marital functioning

The aim was to study representations of past parental bonding, romantic attachment style, and characteristics and functioning of the couple system at the expectancy phase of the transition to adoptive parenthood. The hypothesis underlying is that this critical phase of parenthood development may affect parental representative world and familial organization. Participants: 20 couples of adoptive parents-to-be, during the period preceding the child placement, and 20 couples three months pregnant. Measures: (1) Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), (2) Adult Attachment Questionnaire (AAQ), (3) Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scales (FACES III). Results: Statistical comparisons showed no significant differences between adoptive vs. non-adoptive parents-to-be on PBI. No statistical differences were found either on the AAQ scales. Significant differences between groups were found in the couple functioning: Adoptive parents-to-be were characterized by more Cohesion, which underline a more structured and often enmeshed type of family functioning. This result emerged both analyzing the couple as a whole, and the single individual belonging to the family system. An extreme type of Cohesion is more often observed in adoptive couples (55%) than in the biological ones (15%). As regard Adaptability, statistical comparisons yielded no significant differences between the two groups. Despite the extreme Cohesion that characterize adoptive families, these parents-to-be were found to be more satisfied (less dissatisfied) with the overall family functioning and its cohesion.