Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 8(4), pp. 141 - 147
DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2020.080405
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Narratives of Adoption

Andrea Rucska ^*, Anna Perge
Faculty of Health, University of Miskolc, Hungary

ABSTRACT

In Hungary, the rate of adoption is much lower compared to the number of children living in institutional care. Adoption provides an opportunity for ceasing the negative factors in the personality development of children in institutional care and reaches a better quality of life. The aim of the research is to reveal whether children's age and the time of adoption affect the development of personality, regarding the attachment relationship between children and parents. Additionally, we would like to map how the personality of adopted children changes after getting to a family, and what the characteristics of its development are. For the retrospective study, an interview method was used, it happened by the adopting parents in case of all the ten included families. The interviews covered the following subjects: the reason for adoption, thoughts related to children, uncertainty factors in connection with adoption, acquaintance periods, the events of the family's home and the difficulties of the family socialization process. The interviews were analyzed by content analysis. The possibility of adoption came up in most of the families included in the research after medical interventions and the acceptance of infertility. The incorrigible and severe health damage of the child was a reason for exclusion in association with the child to be adopted. Four couples had no criteria about the origin. All families reported about uncertainty and fear before adoption. In the moment of adoption, the youngest children were newborns, and the oldest child was six and a half years old when getting to the adopting family. In respect of the examined families, the interval between the submission of the application and getting to the family was between two months and two and a half years. The initial difficulties were greatly different in the cases of newborns and children adopted to an older age. Parents defined the first six weeks as the hardest in case of newborns. The support of the family's background and friends after adoption could be detected in case of eight families, two families experienced the rejection of the grandparents. It is indisputable that adoption as early as possible is the ideal for children. If we know the case history, in case of experiencing a crisis, the arising problems can be treated effectively only by teamwork with the parents and the representatives of related professions. Children have the right to health, a healthy lifestyle, and we should always strive to create optimal conditions.

KEYWORDS
Adoption, Childhood, Development, Family, Related Professions

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Andrea Rucska , Anna Perge , "Narratives of Adoption," Universal Journal of Public Health, Vol. 8, No. 4, pp. 141 - 147, 2020. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2020.080405.

(b). APA Format:
Andrea Rucska , Anna Perge (2020). Narratives of Adoption. Universal Journal of Public Health, 8(4), 141 - 147. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2020.080405.