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Cian McDonagh

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Psychological Society of Ireland
Psychological Society of Ireland

The document summarizes research on fatherhood in the context of intercountry adoption. It discusses how fatherhood and adoption literature has evolved over time to focus more on relationships between fathers and children. It then outlines the research design, participants, and results of a study exploring men's experiences of fatherhood through international adoption. The study found themes of men fulfilling their desire to be fathers, though some felt like forgotten parents initially. It discusses implications for counselling practice and recommendations for further research.

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Fatherhood in the Context of Intercountry Adoption Cian McDonough Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, Trinity College Dublin Supervised by: Dr Mary Creaner & Dr Elizabeth Nixon
Fatherhood Literature • The literature on both fatherhood and the relationship between fathers and their children has evolved over time (Palkovitz & Palm, 2009). • Historically, the father was predominately defined as being the authoritarian and the financial head of the family (Maskalan, 2015). • Fathers were seen in the more traditional role of breadwinner (Lamb, 2009). • In the past 40 years scholarship has focused more on the relationships and bonds that exist between infants and their fathers (Palm, 2014).
Adoption and Identity Literature . • Infertility is a common experience for many people who adopt, and it is an experience which often has lasting negative impact on people (Monga, Alexandrescu, Katz, Stein, & Ganiats, 2004). • Having to acknowledge that having a biological child is not going to be possible frequently engenders feelings of grief in prospective parents,(Schwerdtfeger & Shreffler, 2009). • The extent to which a man defines himself as a father, and ascribes meaning to this role, will have a significant bearing on his fathering behaviour (Habib, 2012; Fox & Bruce, 2001).
Current research in the context of the literature review • The transition to fatherhood is considered to be a major event in a man’s life, which has been increasingly become the focus of research (Lamb, 2009). The importance of fathers in their children’s lives has now been established. (Marsiglio, 1995). • The current study built on the current, limited, literature on intercountry adoption in Ireland. • Research Question: What are men’s experiences of fatherhood in the context of international adoption?
Research Design and Rationale • The study employed a qualitative design in order to explore men’s experiences of fatherhood in the context of intercountry adoption. • Qualitative research designs allow for the in-depth exploration of phenomena that are not well understood (Neiuwenhuis & Smit, 2012) • IPA was deemed to be a suitable approach for this study, as it attempts to find out how individuals perceive the particular situations with which they are faced with, and how they make sense of their social and personal world (Smith, 2007; Wagstaff et al., 2014).
Procedure • Ethical Approval to conduct the study was granted by TCD School of Psychology • Recruitment via email circulated by various adoption support organizations • Informed consent gained • Semi-structured interviews recorded and transcribed verbatim • The transcripts of the participant interviews were analysed according to the principles of IPA, and following the framework for analysis suggested by Smith and colleagues (2009).
Participants • Fifteen participants who met the eligibility criteria were interviewed • All were currently resident in the Republic of Irish. Thirteen of the participants were born in Ireland and the remaining two were from other European countries. • All of the participants were married to a female partner. • The age of the participants ranged from 40 to 64 years (Mean = 49.6 years, SD = 6.2). • Thirteen of the participants had completed either third level education or further postgraduate studies; the remaining two participants completed secondary school. All participants were either employed or self-employed.
Fathering in the context of adoption:  Can you tell me about your decision to become a father through adoption? Identity:  How has becoming a father altered your view of your own identity?  As a father, what do you consider to be your role in your child’s  development/growing up? Father-Child Relationship:  How do you label the relationship you have with your child?  Tell me about a typical day with your child?  Tell me about the types of interactions you have with your child?  How does this compare with the relationship you feel your partner has with the child? Fatherhood:  How did you imagine you would be as a father prior to the adoption?  Can you tell me about your own father?  What did you learn from him about fathering?  How does being a father differ from your expectations? Bond:  Tell me about your earliest bonding experiences with your child?  Were there any factors that hindered your initial bonding with your child?  How would you currently describe the bond that exists between you and your child? Adoption Process and Fatherhood:  Can you describe how you experienced the adoption process?  Emotionally and logistically
Results Superordinate Themes Subordinate Themes 1. Fulfilling the desire to be a father The ambivalent pathway to fatherhood “My view on it was that I was going to support my wife’s decision” Becoming a father overnight “Can you be in Russia Friday?” 1. Moving on from adoption The forgotten parent “I kind of took a step back” Forging a parental identity “I am his Dad. He is my Son. That’s it” Fulfillment and fears “It is possible he will always have some issues”
Fulfilling the desire to be a father • The ambivalent pathway to fatherhood: Karl: So I suppose at that point I went along with it, I think it typical of most men, it is not many men that decide to go adopting, it is a rarity. It is not that they don’t like children it just doesn’t enter into their priorities as much. It is a funny one • Becoming a father overnight: James: So, it was just, there’s your child, off you go and as soon as the Court Order had been signed the orphanage basically wanted her out of there as quickly as possible.
Moving on from adoption • The forgotten parent: Luke: Annie was reared by women so when she arrived first she didn’t want to know me at all. She was totally Elisabeth, Elisabeth, Elisabeth, that’s my wife .. So that was difficult. The first say two or three months of that was extremely difficult. She, not that she would not interact with me, but it was a very slow build up process to engage. • Forging a parental identity: Neil: The label. He’s my Son. End of story. I don’t think of him as being my adopted son. I would no more introduce him as my adopted son as I would introduce him as being my fat Son or my freckled Son or my foxy haired Son. You know what I mean • Fulfilment and fears: Sean: These children wake up every day the way their brain has become hardwired thinking they are going to be abandoned, they are in charge constantly. So it’s always fight or flight but this guy is fight.
Discussion • Fulfilling the desire to be a father • The ambivalent pathway to fatherhood • Becoming a father overnight • Moving on from adoption • The forgotten parent • Forging a parental identity • Fulfilment and fears
Implications and recommendations for Counselling Psychology practice • Infertility • Fertility Treatment • Preparation for fatherhood • Journey into fatherhood and feeling like a forgotten parent • Viewing of child through the lens of adoption
Implications for theory and recommendations for future research • Findings support current theories of fatherhood • Attachment theory and adoption • Identity theory • Future research: • The journey to fatherhood through the process of intercountry adoption • The longer-term impact of the adoption on men
Selected references • Ainsworth, M. & Bowlby, J. (1991). An ethological approach to personality development. Journal of the American Psychologist, 46 (4), 333-341. doi: 10.1037//0003- 066x.46.4.333 • Alase, A. (2017). The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA): A guide to a good qualitative research approach. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 5(2), 9. doi:10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.5n.2p.9 • Brodzinsky, D. M., Smith, D. W., & Brodzinsky, A. B. (1998). Children’s adjustment to adoption: Developmental and clinical issues. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage • Ceballo, R., Lansford, J. E., Abbey, A., & Stewart, A. J. (2004). Gaining a child: Comparing the experiences of biological parents, adoptive parents, and stepparents. Journal of Family Relations, 53, 38–48. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2004.00007.x • Chin, R., Hall, P., & Daiches, A. (2011). Fathers' experiences of their transition to fatherhood: a metasynthesis. Journal of reproductive and infant psychology, 29(1), 4-18. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195388275.001.0001
• Daniluk, J. C., & Hurtig-Mitchell, J. (2003). Themes of hope and healing: Infertile couples’ experience of adoption. Journal of Counselling & Development, 81, 389–399. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6678.2003.tb00265.x • Deave, T., & Johnson, D. (2008). The transition to parenthood: what does it mean for fathers? Journal of Advanced Nursing, 63(6), 626–633. doi:10.1111/j.1365- 2648.2008.04748.x • Foli, K. J., Hebdon, M., Lim, E., & South, S. C. (2017). Transitions of adoptive parents: A longitudinal mixed methods analysis. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 31(5), 483– 492. doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2017.06.007 • Lionetti, F. (2014). What promotes secure attachment in early adoption? The protective roles of infants’ temperament and adoptive parents’ attachment. Journal of Attachment & Human Development, 16(6), 573–589. doi:10.1080/14616734.2014.959028 • Marsiglio, W. (Ed.), Fatherhood: Contemporary Theory, Research, and Social Policy (pp. 1- 20). Thousand Oaks, California: Sage. • Palm, G. (2014). Attachment theory and fathers: Moving from “being there” to “being with.” Journal of Family Theory & Review, 6(4), 282–297. doi:10.1111/jftr.12045

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Cian McDonagh

  • 1. Fatherhood in the Context of Intercountry Adoption Cian McDonough Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, Trinity College Dublin Supervised by: Dr Mary Creaner & Dr Elizabeth Nixon
  • 2. Fatherhood Literature • The literature on both fatherhood and the relationship between fathers and their children has evolved over time (Palkovitz & Palm, 2009). • Historically, the father was predominately defined as being the authoritarian and the financial head of the family (Maskalan, 2015). • Fathers were seen in the more traditional role of breadwinner (Lamb, 2009). • In the past 40 years scholarship has focused more on the relationships and bonds that exist between infants and their fathers (Palm, 2014).
  • 3. Adoption and Identity Literature . • Infertility is a common experience for many people who adopt, and it is an experience which often has lasting negative impact on people (Monga, Alexandrescu, Katz, Stein, & Ganiats, 2004). • Having to acknowledge that having a biological child is not going to be possible frequently engenders feelings of grief in prospective parents,(Schwerdtfeger & Shreffler, 2009). • The extent to which a man defines himself as a father, and ascribes meaning to this role, will have a significant bearing on his fathering behaviour (Habib, 2012; Fox & Bruce, 2001).
  • 4. Current research in the context of the literature review • The transition to fatherhood is considered to be a major event in a man’s life, which has been increasingly become the focus of research (Lamb, 2009). The importance of fathers in their children’s lives has now been established. (Marsiglio, 1995). • The current study built on the current, limited, literature on intercountry adoption in Ireland. • Research Question: What are men’s experiences of fatherhood in the context of international adoption?
  • 5. Research Design and Rationale • The study employed a qualitative design in order to explore men’s experiences of fatherhood in the context of intercountry adoption. • Qualitative research designs allow for the in-depth exploration of phenomena that are not well understood (Neiuwenhuis & Smit, 2012) • IPA was deemed to be a suitable approach for this study, as it attempts to find out how individuals perceive the particular situations with which they are faced with, and how they make sense of their social and personal world (Smith, 2007; Wagstaff et al., 2014).
  • 6. Procedure • Ethical Approval to conduct the study was granted by TCD School of Psychology • Recruitment via email circulated by various adoption support organizations • Informed consent gained • Semi-structured interviews recorded and transcribed verbatim • The transcripts of the participant interviews were analysed according to the principles of IPA, and following the framework for analysis suggested by Smith and colleagues (2009).
  • 7. Participants • Fifteen participants who met the eligibility criteria were interviewed • All were currently resident in the Republic of Irish. Thirteen of the participants were born in Ireland and the remaining two were from other European countries. • All of the participants were married to a female partner. • The age of the participants ranged from 40 to 64 years (Mean = 49.6 years, SD = 6.2). • Thirteen of the participants had completed either third level education or further postgraduate studies; the remaining two participants completed secondary school. All participants were either employed or self-employed.
  • 8. Fathering in the context of adoption:  Can you tell me about your decision to become a father through adoption? Identity:  How has becoming a father altered your view of your own identity?  As a father, what do you consider to be your role in your child’s  development/growing up? Father-Child Relationship:  How do you label the relationship you have with your child?  Tell me about a typical day with your child?  Tell me about the types of interactions you have with your child?  How does this compare with the relationship you feel your partner has with the child? Fatherhood:  How did you imagine you would be as a father prior to the adoption?  Can you tell me about your own father?  What did you learn from him about fathering?  How does being a father differ from your expectations? Bond:  Tell me about your earliest bonding experiences with your child?  Were there any factors that hindered your initial bonding with your child?  How would you currently describe the bond that exists between you and your child? Adoption Process and Fatherhood:  Can you describe how you experienced the adoption process?  Emotionally and logistically
  • 9. Results Superordinate Themes Subordinate Themes 1. Fulfilling the desire to be a father The ambivalent pathway to fatherhood “My view on it was that I was going to support my wife’s decision” Becoming a father overnight “Can you be in Russia Friday?” 1. Moving on from adoption The forgotten parent “I kind of took a step back” Forging a parental identity “I am his Dad. He is my Son. That’s it” Fulfillment and fears “It is possible he will always have some issues”
  • 10. Fulfilling the desire to be a father • The ambivalent pathway to fatherhood: Karl: So I suppose at that point I went along with it, I think it typical of most men, it is not many men that decide to go adopting, it is a rarity. It is not that they don’t like children it just doesn’t enter into their priorities as much. It is a funny one • Becoming a father overnight: James: So, it was just, there’s your child, off you go and as soon as the Court Order had been signed the orphanage basically wanted her out of there as quickly as possible.
  • 11. Moving on from adoption • The forgotten parent: Luke: Annie was reared by women so when she arrived first she didn’t want to know me at all. She was totally Elisabeth, Elisabeth, Elisabeth, that’s my wife .. So that was difficult. The first say two or three months of that was extremely difficult. She, not that she would not interact with me, but it was a very slow build up process to engage. • Forging a parental identity: Neil: The label. He’s my Son. End of story. I don’t think of him as being my adopted son. I would no more introduce him as my adopted son as I would introduce him as being my fat Son or my freckled Son or my foxy haired Son. You know what I mean • Fulfilment and fears: Sean: These children wake up every day the way their brain has become hardwired thinking they are going to be abandoned, they are in charge constantly. So it’s always fight or flight but this guy is fight.
  • 12. Discussion • Fulfilling the desire to be a father • The ambivalent pathway to fatherhood • Becoming a father overnight • Moving on from adoption • The forgotten parent • Forging a parental identity • Fulfilment and fears
  • 13. Implications and recommendations for Counselling Psychology practice • Infertility • Fertility Treatment • Preparation for fatherhood • Journey into fatherhood and feeling like a forgotten parent • Viewing of child through the lens of adoption
  • 14. Implications for theory and recommendations for future research • Findings support current theories of fatherhood • Attachment theory and adoption • Identity theory • Future research: • The journey to fatherhood through the process of intercountry adoption • The longer-term impact of the adoption on men
  • 15. Selected references • Ainsworth, M. & Bowlby, J. (1991). An ethological approach to personality development. Journal of the American Psychologist, 46 (4), 333-341. doi: 10.1037//0003- 066x.46.4.333 • Alase, A. (2017). The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA): A guide to a good qualitative research approach. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 5(2), 9. doi:10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.5n.2p.9 • Brodzinsky, D. M., Smith, D. W., & Brodzinsky, A. B. (1998). Children’s adjustment to adoption: Developmental and clinical issues. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage • Ceballo, R., Lansford, J. E., Abbey, A., & Stewart, A. J. (2004). Gaining a child: Comparing the experiences of biological parents, adoptive parents, and stepparents. Journal of Family Relations, 53, 38–48. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2004.00007.x • Chin, R., Hall, P., & Daiches, A. (2011). Fathers' experiences of their transition to fatherhood: a metasynthesis. Journal of reproductive and infant psychology, 29(1), 4-18. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195388275.001.0001
  • 16. • Daniluk, J. C., & Hurtig-Mitchell, J. (2003). Themes of hope and healing: Infertile couples’ experience of adoption. Journal of Counselling & Development, 81, 389–399. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6678.2003.tb00265.x • Deave, T., & Johnson, D. (2008). The transition to parenthood: what does it mean for fathers? Journal of Advanced Nursing, 63(6), 626–633. doi:10.1111/j.1365- 2648.2008.04748.x • Foli, K. J., Hebdon, M., Lim, E., & South, S. C. (2017). Transitions of adoptive parents: A longitudinal mixed methods analysis. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 31(5), 483– 492. doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2017.06.007 • Lionetti, F. (2014). What promotes secure attachment in early adoption? The protective roles of infants’ temperament and adoptive parents’ attachment. Journal of Attachment & Human Development, 16(6), 573–589. doi:10.1080/14616734.2014.959028 • Marsiglio, W. (Ed.), Fatherhood: Contemporary Theory, Research, and Social Policy (pp. 1- 20). Thousand Oaks, California: Sage. • Palm, G. (2014). Attachment theory and fathers: Moving from “being there” to “being with.” Journal of Family Theory & Review, 6(4), 282–297. doi:10.1111/jftr.12045