Abstract

Married vs. Partnered and Single Parent Families: Is There a Difference in Outcome for International Adoptees?

Dana E. Johnson, Department Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.

Background
Controversy exists as to whether non-traditional families offer a developmental environment equivalent to married couples. Legislation designed to prevent placement of children with single and/or partnered parents has been successful or is being considered in a number of states. The polarity of both the views and interpretation of existing data is illustrated by the conflicting statements offered by President Bush “…the ideal is - and studies have shown that the ideal is where a child is raised in a married family with a man and a woman.”  New York Times, 1/28/05 and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Children’s optimal development seems to be influenced more by the nature of the relationships and interactions within the family unit than by the particular structural form it takes. Pediatrics: 109, 341, 02

Methods
The study population consisted of 2291 international adoptees in 1834 families placed in MN between 1990-98.

Results
Of participating families, 86% of were married, 7% single and 2% partnered (SP). SP families had significantly higher primary parent educational levels but significantly lower total family incomes and were more likely to have difficulty paying bills. Children in SP families were significantly older at placement, had spent longer in institutional care settings and had higher deprivations scores. Using logistic regression analysis these three factors, but not marital status, influenced outcome in terms of transitional behavioral problems, long-term, parent-reported developmental and behavioral problems and CBCL scores.

Conclusion
Outcome in international adoptees were influenced by factors known to impact their well-being and not by the marital status of the parent(s).

Disclosure
No information to disclose.