Adaeze Okonkwo

Objective: This study aimed to explore how adoptive parents construct their identities and meaning of parenthood following experiences of infertility. Methods: This qualitative research employed a narrative methodology to investigate the lived experiences of 31 adoptive parents residing in Austria, all of whom had previously experienced infertility. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling, ensuring diversity in gender, relationship status, and duration since adoption. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, each lasting between 60 and 90 minutes. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic narrative analysis with the assistance of NVivo software. Theoretical saturation guided the cessation of data collection. Data analysis focused on identifying shared themes and patterns in the way participants narrated their transition from infertility to adoptive parenthood. Findings: Three major themes emerged from the data: Redefining Parenthood, Emotional Journey, and Social and Relational Adjustments. Within these categories, participants described subthemes such as letting go of biological ties, reconstructing identity, symbolic rituals, emotional ambivalence, hope and renewal, navigating social stigma, and coping with institutional processes. Participants emphasized the importance of narrative reconstruction, spiritual or moral reframing, and peer support in legitimizing their parental identity. Despite the fulfillment found in adoption, many expressed that emotional residues from infertility persisted, shaping their experience of parenthood in both subtle and explicit ways. Conclusion: The findings highlight that adoptive parenthood after infertility is a complex, emotionally layered, and socially negotiated process. Narrative identity construction plays a vital role in helping individuals reconcile reproductive loss with the joys and challenges of adoption.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the predictive roles of parental anxiety and parental criticism on child internalizing symptoms in a South African sample. Methods: The research employed a correlational descriptive design with a sample of 470 parents of children aged 6 to 12 years, selected based on the Morgan and Krejcie sample size table. Participants were recruited from various regions of South Africa. Standardized instruments were used, including the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for child internalizing symptoms, the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) for parental anxiety, and the Perceived Criticism Measure (PCM) for parental criticism. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27, applying Pearson correlation coefficients to examine the relationships between variables and multiple linear regression to determine the predictive power of parental anxiety and criticism on child internalizing symptoms. Findings: Pearson correlation analysis showed significant positive relationships between child internalizing symptoms and both parental anxiety (r = .61, p < .01) and parental criticism (r = .53, p < .01). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that both parental anxiety (β = .49, t = 12.67, p < .001) and parental criticism (β = .33, t = 8.82, p < .001) significantly predicted child internalizing symptoms. The overall model was statistically significant (F(2, 467) = 183.19, p < .001), with an R² of .44, indicating that 44% of the variance in child internalizing symptoms was explained by the two predictors. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that higher levels of parental anxiety and criticism are associated with increased internalizing symptoms in children. These results highlight the importance of addressing both emotional and behavioral aspects of parenting in preventive and therapeutic interventions aimed at supporting child mental health.