Given the links between childhood maltreatment, attachment representations and affect regulation and the research gap in both longitudinal and qualitative designs addressing such topics, this study explores the attachment-related representational and emotional trajectories of three late-adopted women from childhood to early adulthood. A reflexive thematic analysis drew upon data from three different measures (the Story Stem Assessment Profile, Friends and Family Interview and Adult Attachment Interview). Data analysis illustrated the elaborative handling of negative emotions, the conflictual – yet eventually repaired – internal representations of parents, an oscillation between neediness and independence, and the appreciation of childhood bliss. Such findings provide insights on the attachment-related outcomes of late-adopted individuals in adulthood and serve as a theoretical basis for the implementation of related policies in adoption services.
Plain language summary
Considering how childhood maltreatment has a direct effect on the way people manage their emotions and relate to one another, and given that little is known about adopted populations’ paths across development, this study takes a look at how three adopted adult women, maltreated before adoption, have dealt with their emotions and relationships during their lives so far. For this purpose, three different types of evaluation were used. The results showed that the participants were able to handle emerging negative emotions; that they experienced both negative and positive emotions towards their parents, with the negative ones being progressively repaired across development; that they were both in need of people in their lives as well as of independence; and that they deeply appreciated childhood and its bliss. The findings of this study could be used to support the implementation of policies in adoption services and provide new information regarding how previously maltreated adult adopted people look back at how their lives have unfolded so far.
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