Essere genitori adottivi di un figlio di diversa etnia: il “contatto esteso intragruppo”

[Autom. eng. transl.] International adoption represents a numerically consistent phenomenon of undoubted social importance in Italy as well as in many Western countries. If some research has shown how being adopted by parents of a different ethnicity can represent a risk factor associated with greater emotional behavioral problems (Lee & The Minnesota International Adoption Project Team, 2010; McGinnis, Livingston Smith, Ryan, & Howard , 2009), a small number of studies have analyzed whether and how the cultural socialization of adoptive parents can contribute to the adaptation and psychosocial well-being of adolescents and young adults in international adoption (eg Basow, Lilley, Bookwala, & McGillicuddy-DeLisi, 2008; Ferrari, Ranieri, Barni & Rosnati, 2015; Mohanty, 2013). In this study a specific strategy of cultural socialization is proposed, called "extended intra-group contact", which refers to the contact of adoptive parents with members of the ethnic group of the country of origin of the adopted children. It is hypothesized that the positive and friendly contacts of the adoptive parents with members of the ethnic group of origin of the child could promote adaptation and psychosocial well-being in adolescents and young adults in international adoption. A self-report questionnaire was given to 120 adoptive triads (mother, father and child aged 15 to 24 years) for a total of 360 participants. The results, confirming what has been hypothesized, show a significant effect of the "extended intragroup contact" of adoptive parents for the adaptation and psychosocial well-being of adolescents and young adults in international adoption. The results will be discussed in the light of the operational guidelines for the training of parents preparing for adoption and the practical implications for post-adoptive support.