Differentiation of Self in Adult Adoptees in Spain: The Role of Family Functioning, Adoption Communication, and Age at Placement

Abstract

This study analyzes differentiation of self in adult adoptees and its relationship with family functioning and adoption communication in the adoptive family and with some sociodemographic and adoption variables. Fifty domestic and intercountry adult adoptees completed a self-report including the Differentiation of Self Scale, the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale-20Esp, the Adoption Communication Scale-Spanish, and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Results revealed significant relationships between differentiation of self and family functioning, adoption communication, and adoption variables. Family functioning predicted 27% of differentiation, and mother adoption communication explained 9%. Differentiation of self appears to be an interesting concept in studying adult adoptees’ adjustment.

Keywords:

• Adult adoptee
• differentiation of self
• family functioning
• adoption communication
• age at adoption

Declaration of interest statement

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethics approval

Approval was obtained from the ethics committees of the University of Málaga and the Comillas Pontifical University. The procedures used in this study adhere to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.