The role of family resources in selection of candidates for adoptive parents
The purpose of study is to define the role of the family resources in the selection of adoptive parents' applicants. Assumed that the risk of adoptive family' assessment is a necessary stage in selection procedure, but insufficient one. Familial and individual resources of family members reciprocally associated with psychopathology symptoms of adoptive parents' applicants: the higher level of resources is the less pronounced psychiatric symptoms. The study was conducted on a sample of adoptive parents' applicants from 16 regions of Russia (n = 153); among them men were 53 (34.64%), women - 100 (65.43%). The average age of the respondents - 37.90 + 5.12 y.o. The Test of family resources - II, Hardiness test, D. Olson FACES-III, SCL-90-R, Crowne and Marlowe social desirability scale were used. It was shown that for the prediction of child' successful placement in the family the most important resources are: the individual resilience of adoptive parents, effective family communication, problem-solving skills, well developed resource management, as well as the realistic perception of the family financial status. Hardiness and family resources are complementing each other. For the compensation of some specific psychopathological symptoms different kind of individual and family resources are important, the combination of family and individual resources is presented as well. Adoptive parents' high resources reduce the manifestations of psychopathology symptoms, contributing to adaptation of the family with adoptive child. The test battery used in this study is valid and is effective one for the selection of adoptive parents' applicants. The assessment of adoptive parents' applicants psychopathology and their resources as a family can provide their better training and assistance.