Abstract

BORGES, Camila  and  SCORSOLINI-COMIN, Fabio. Family adaptations in the adoption of children with chronic illness. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2022, vol.23, n.3, pp.736-747.  Epub Dec 31, 2022. ISSN 1645-0086.  https://doi.org/10.15309/22psd230312.

The adoption of a child with chronic illness unmistakably changes the family routine, making it necessary not only to understand the transition to parenting but also the challenges associated with chronic illness at this stage of the child's and this new family's development. This collective case study aimed to understand the main difficulties, facilitating and adaptive aspects experienced by parents with adoptive children that suffer from any chronic illness. Four families with adoptive children suffering from chronic illness from a city in the interior of State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, were interviewed. The interviews were interpreted through Positive Psychology. The parents pointed the lack of information on the part of health institutions and professionals, myths about adoption, lack of knowledge, and financial difficulties as difficulties. The facilitators were the bonds and the building of parenthood. The main coping strategies were related to the core family, especially regarding care for preventing crisis situations and health problems. This type of adoption can be favored not only by the personal characteristics of the parents, but fundamentally by the strengthening of institutions responsible for receiving, caring and guiding; broadening the available support networks.

Keywords : Adoption; Chronic illness; Confrontation; Adaptation.

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