Nurturing attachments parenting program: The relationship between adopters’ parental reflective functioning and perception of their children’s difficulties

Nurturing attachments parenting program: The relationship between adopters’ parental reflective functioning and perception of their children’s difficulties

Jo Staines, Kim Golding, Julie Selwyn · Developmental Child Welfare

Twenty-nine adoptive families in England completed questionnaires before and after a group programme. Parent ratings identified more emotional and peer difficulties in children after the programme, but fewer conduct symptoms. The authors considered whether changes in parental understanding influenced recognition of children’s distress.

Limitations: These are parent proxy ratings rather than children’s own accounts or independent assessments. Changed ratings may reflect reporting or recognition as well as actual child change. The small uncontrolled evaluation cannot establish treatment effects. Parent self-efficacy and satisfaction are outside this summary. The study evaluates a programme provided by AdoptionPlus, and its developer is a co-author. Readers may consider the provider and developer relationships.

Research type

Before-and-after intervention evaluation

Source reviewed

Abstract

Peer reviewed

Yes

Age group

Children / Adolescents