Supporting Adoptive Parents: A Study on Personal Self-Care. Issue 2 (3rd April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Miller, J. Jay; Niu, Chunling; Womack, Rachel; Shalash, Nada
• Is Part Of: Adoption quarterly. Volume 22:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 157
• Page End: 171
• Publication Date: 2019-04-03
• Subjects: self-care -- adoptive parents -- wellness; Adoption -- Periodicals; 362.734
• DOI: 10.1080/10926755.2019.1627451
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1092-6755

Abstract

Abstract: This study explored the personal self-care practices of adoptive parents ( N = 229) in one southeastern state. Overall, findings indicate that adoptive parents only engage in moderate modest self-care practices. Significant differences in self-care practices were detected by health status (self-report) and current financial status . In summary, the healthier one perceived themselves to be and the more financially stable they were, the more they tended to engage in self-care practices. Data suggest the need for entities involved with potential and/or adoptive parents need to explicitly engage adoptive parents in education about self-care and training in support of self-care practices. As well, data indicate the need for reframing self-care from an ancillary activity to an integrated tool to assuage the challenges facing adoptive parents.