Adoptive and Nonadoptive Mother-Child Behavioral Interaction: A Comparative Study at 4 Years of Age

Comparable samples of low-risk adopted and non-adopted children and mothers were observed during three tasks at age 4 years. Quality of mother-child interactions, child level of functioning in four domains, and maternal parenting satisfaction and social support were assessed. Adopted children were as competent as non-adopted children on measures of developmental functioning. Both groups of mothers expressed high satisfaction and support as parents. However, ratings of child, maternal, and dyadic behavior when interacting were all lower for adoptive dyads than for non-adoptive dyads, and adoptive dyads with boys accounted for the maternal and dyadic group differences.