Dyadic Sex Differences in Adoptive and Nonadoptive Family Relationships during Emerging Adulthood Amy Walkner-Spaan, M.S.W., L.I.S.W. Martha Rueter, Ph.D.

What do we know about adoptive families in emerging adulthood? Retrospectively, adoptees, their siblings, and their parents reported a general level of family closeness (Loehlin, Horn, & Ernst, 2010) Adoptive families reported less warm, supportive communication and increased conflict (Rueter, Keyes, Iacono, & McGue, 2009) Adopted adolescents were observed to have greater conflictual behavior towards their parents (Rueter et al., 2009)

Purpose This descriptive research explored relationship differences between adoptive and nonadoptive parent-emerging adult dyads by parent and emerging adult biological sex.

Sample Sibling Interaction and Behavior Study (SIBS; McGue, et al., 2007; Rueter et al., 2009) –Families had at least two children –At least one adopted child in the adoptive families For this study: –Eligible emerging adults were – years old –Eligible mothers and fathers had one child – years old

Sample: Self-Repor t Mom Daughter to Mom Nadopt = 158 N nonadopt = 117 Son to Mom Nadopt = 114 N nonadopt = 84 Mom to Daughter Nadopt = 157 N nonadopt = 114 Mom to Son Nadopt = 114 N nonadopt = 85 Dad Daughter to Dad Nadopt = 155 N nonadopt = 117 Son to Dad Nadopt = 112 N nonadopt = 83 Dad to Daughter Nadopt = 139 N nonadopt = 97 Dad to Son Nadopt = 109 N nonadopt = 73 Emerging Adults M age = Mothers M age = Fathers M age = % White

Sample: Observation Parent Daughter to Parent Nadopt = 158 N nonadopt = 117 Son to Parent Nadopt = 116 N nonadopt = 84 Parent to Daughter Nadopt = 111 N nonadopt = 80 Parent to Son Nadopt = 95 N nonadopt = 59 Emerging Adults M age = Parent M age = % White

Self-Report Measures Parental Environment Questionnaire (PEQ; Elkins, McGue, & Iacono, 1997) Conflict (12 items) –“ My child and I often get into arguments.” –“My parent and I often get into arguments.” Closeness (12 items) –“My child doesn’t seem to feel very close to me.” –“I don’t feel very close to my parent.” Four dyadic relationship indicators: E.A. - Mother E.A. - Father Mother - E.A. Father - E.A.

Independent Observations SIBS Rating Scores (Rueter et al., 2009) Conflict –Hostility scale Closeness –Warmth/Support –Listener Responsiveness –Communication –Prosocial Two dyadic relationship indicators E.A. - Parent Parent – E.A.

Results: Self-Report * = p <.05 ** = p <.001

Results: Observation * = p <.001

Discussion & Future Directions Extends research on adoptive family relationships into emerging adulthood Individuation might affect adopted emerging adults differently Investigate the influence of adoption-specific variables on parent-emerging adult relationships

References Elkins, I. J., McGue, M., & Iacono, W. G. (1997). Genetic and environmental influences on parent-son relationships: Evidence for increasing genetic influence during adolescence. Developmental Psychology, 33(2), Loehlin, J. C., Horn, J. M., & Ernst, J. L. (2010). Parent-child closeness studied in adoptive families. Personality and Individual Differences, 48(2), doi: /j.paid McGue, M., Keyes, M., Sharma, A., Elkins, I., Legrand, L., Johnson, W., & Iacono, W. (2007). The environments of adopted and non-adopted youth: Evidence on range restriction from the Sibling Interaction and Behavior Study (SIBS). Behavioral Genetics, 37(3), doi: /s Rueter, M. A., Keyes, M. A., Iacono, W. G., & McGue, M. (2009). Family interactions in adoptive compared to nonadoptive families. Journal of Family Psychology, 23(1), doi: /a