Post adoption support needs and implications for future practice – a systematic review
A systematic review examined 76 English-language primary studies published during 2002–2025 about adoptees’ and families’ post-adoption support needs. Recurring subjects included attachment, identity, neurodevelopment, mental health, trauma, education, loss and birth-family contact. The synthesis described barriers to obtaining support and understanding adoptees’ earlier adversity and neurodevelopmental needs.
Limitations: This international review combines adoptee and family evidence, which should not all be read as direct adoptee accounts. Needs and service barriers are not proof that a particular intervention works. Primary studies may already appear separately in this database. Publication relationship: this research was published by BAAF or in its Adoption & Fostering journal, now associated with CoramBAAF, an adoption-sector organisation. Publication does not establish that the organisation conducted the research; readers may take the institutional relationship into account.
- Research type
- Systematic review
- Source reviewed
- Abstract
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Age group
- Mixed
Study context and review
Age group as recorded: Mixed
Adoption context: Mixed adoption pathways
Programme: Not recorded
Institutional context: Adoption-sector advocacy/service organisation
Publication relationship: this research was published by BAAF or in its Adoption & Fostering journal, now associated with CoramBAAF, an adoption-sector organisation. Publication does not establish that the organisation conducted the research; readers may take the institutional relationship into account.
Relationship identified. Bibliographic relationships are not a bias or safety rating.
Topics: Evidence synthesis, identity, mental health, neurodivergence, post-adoption support
Review scope: Source checked: Abstract. This does not imply full-text or independent human verification.
Country as recorded: International (UK-led review)
- Funding
- Not yet checked for this entry
- Commissioner
- Not yet checked for this entry
- Funder role
- Not yet checked for this entry
- Declared conflicts
- Not yet checked for this entry
- Recruitment
- Not yet checked for this entry
- Adoptee involvement
- Not yet checked for this entry
Entry: study_a40a0974be780441