Adoptive Parenting Cognitions in the Era of Open Adoption: Is Shared Fate Theory Still Relevant?

• Published date: 01 October 2021
• Author: Albert Y. H. Lo,Krystal K. Cashen,Harold D. Grotevant
• Date: 01 October 2021
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12557

A Y. H. L , K K. C ,  H D. G University of

Massachusetts, Amherst

Adoptive Parenting Cognitions in the Era of Open

Adoption: Is Shared Fate Theory Still Relevant?

Objective: To reexamine shared fate theory by

validating the original measure of “acknowl-

edgment of differences” (AOD) and testing the

theory’s relations in the current era of open

adoptions.

Background: Shared fate theory states adoptive

parents who acknowledge differences between

adoptive and nonadoptive parenthood are better

able to empathize with their child and promote

open communication about adoption. The theory

has not been validated in the context of modern

adoption practices, such as birth family contact.

Method: Conrmatory factor analyses exam-

ined the validity of the original measure of AOD

using a sample of 190 adoptive mothers whose

families varied in level of birth family con-

tact. Regression analyses examined the relation

between AOD and empathy and communication

8 years later, as well as whether level of birth

family contact moderated these relations.

Results: Results provided evidence for the

validity of the measure of AOD. AOD in

mothers signicantly predicted empathy and

communication 8 years later, with little evi-

dence for moderation by level of birth family

contact.

Conclusion: AOD has implications for parent-

ing practices and remains an important adoptive

parenting cognition, regardless of level of birth

family contact.

Universityof Massachusetts Amherst; Tobin Hall, 135 Hicks

Way,Amherst, MA 01003 (aylo@umass.edu).

Key Words: adoption, communication, empathy, openness,

parenting cognition.

Implications: AOD is a still relevant area of

intervention for practitioners working with

adoptive families.

Parents’ cognitions, not just their behaviors, play

a signicant role in the well-being of their chil-

dren (e.g., Bornstein et al., 2018). Examples of

cognitions have included parents’ evaluations of

their own abilities (Meunier et al., 2010), ability

to think of their child in terms of mental states

(Meins, 2013), and knowledge about parenting

(Bornstein et al., 2018). In line with an increas-

ing trend in examining processes over categor-

ical differences in adoption research (Palacios

& Brodzinsky, 2010), parenting cognitions that

are unique to the adoption context, and inu-

ential to the well-being of adopted persons and

their families, have been identied also (Lo &

Cashen, 2020).

Examining parenting cognitions specic to

adoptive parents remains important because

adoptive parents encounter challenges not expe-

rienced by their nonadoptive counterparts. To

begin, the parenting experiences of adoptive

parents may not align with traditional parenting

scripts built around raising biological children

(Kirk, 1964, 1984). In addition, adoptive parents

must raise their children in a society where

others view their families as less valid than non-

adoptive families (Kirk, 1984; Wegar, 2000).

Understanding how adoptive parents mentally

navigate these challenges is imperative for

supporting adoptive families because adop-

tive parents’ parenting processes have strong

implications for their child’s well-being (Lo &

Cashen, 2020).

Family Relations 70 (October 2021): 1117–1131 1117

DOI:10.1111/fare.12557