Longitudinal analyses of adoptive parents' expectations and depressive symptoms.
Karen J Foli, Eunjung Lim, Susan C South
PMID 29112297WHAT IT FOUND
Depressive symptoms decreased over time, but the change was not strong enough to rule out chance.
Adoptive parents felt less able to meet their own parenting expectations after placement, while expectations about the child, family and society were affirmed.
Key findings
01Only parents' expectations of themselves were not affirmed after placement; expectations about the child, family and friends, and society were affirmed.
02Depressive symptoms decreased over time, but the paper reports the change was not statistically significant.
03Higher expectation scores were associated with lower depressive symptom scores over time.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was modest and homogeneous. Most parents were recruited through one large adoption agency, and most parents were White, educated, and higher income. The number of parents analysed changed across time, from 116 before placement to 115 soon after placement and 104 at 5 to 6 months. The expectation questions were investigator-generated, and the paper says their measurement properties need further study. The study observed associations over time, so it cannot show that expectations caused depressive symptoms or that changing expectations would reduce them. Depressive symptoms were self-reported, and the decrease over time was not statistically significant. Although 65% became transracial families and 44% adopted a child with special needs, the parents were mostly from one agency and may not represent all adoptive families.
Declared interests
The article is listed as supported by NIH extramural research. No company funding or author conflict is reported in the supplied text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the link between higher expectations and lower depressive symptoms as proof that nurse assessment or parent training prevents depression. This was an observational survey, and no intervention was tested.