Adoption and foster care : the emotional, relational and familial impacts of caring for traumatised children

O'Marah, Rhiannon and Machin, Laura and Hodge, Suzanne (2025) Adoption and foster care : the emotional, relational and familial impacts of caring for traumatised children. PhD thesis, Lancaster University.

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Abstract

This thesis is comprised of four sections. Section one: a systematic literature review exploring the impact of caring for children who have experienced trauma by reviewing qualitative literature exploring adoptive and foster parents’ experiences of secondary trauma and compassion fatigue. Using a meta-ethnographic approach, 11 studies were analysed resulting in the development of four themes: 1) parenting while navigating the complexities of trauma, 2) underestimating the challenges parents face, 3) challenges with the interplay of attachment, relationships and parental identity and 4) balancing compassion, sacrifice and heartbreak. Findings highlighted the need for further research in understanding the challenges adoptive and foster parents face, particularly their experiences of direct and indirect trauma as a result of caring for traumatised children. Section two: an empirical research paper exploring the impact of adoption on individual family members and the relationships within the family, as per the perspectives of adoptive parents. Qualitative research methods were utilised and 15 adoptive parents were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis, generating five themes: 1) the importance of external support networks for adoptive family functioning, 2) strain on couple relationships and parenting roles, 3) parent-child relationships and parental wellbeing, 4) adoptive parents’ views on the complex role and well-being of adoptive siblings and 5) extended family relationships and understanding adoption. Findings highlighted the importance of external support networks, both formal and informal, in maintaining individual wellbeing and fostering healthy family dynamics within the adoptive family. Section Three: A critical appraisal offering an overview of the findings, a discussion on researcher reflexivity and positioning, recruitment and sampling considerations, further discussion on clinical implications and future research and strengths and limitations of both studies. Section Four: The empirical paper’s ethical application, along with supporting documents.