Dyadic Sex Differences in Adoptive and Nonadoptive Family Relationships during Emerging Adulthood

1. 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.

2. 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)

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

4. 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 18.50 – 22.49 years old • Eligible mothers and fathers had one child 18.50 – 22.49 years old

5. Sample: Self-Report • Emerging Adults • Mage = 19.83 • Mothers Mage = 50.43 • Fathers Mage = 52.69 • 97% White

6. Sample: Observation • Emerging Adults • Mage = 19.82 • Parent Mage = 50.14 • 98% White

7. 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.

8. 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.

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

10. Results: Observation * = p < .001

11. 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

12. 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), 351-363. Loehlin, J. C., Horn, J. M., & Ernst, J. L. (2010). Parent-child closeness studied in adoptive families. Personality and Individual Differences, 48(2), 149-154. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2009.09.012 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), 449-462. doi: 10.1007/s10519-007-9142-7 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), 58-66. doi: 10.1037/a0014091