Adoptive fathers' experiences of search and reunion.

Most research looking at the role of adopters in the adoption, search and reunion process has tended to focus on the experiences of either the adoptive mother or both adoptive parents as a unit. As a result, the role of the adoptive father has had a much lower profile in the literature and research available to practitioners and professionals. Julia Feast, Fiona Kyle and John Triseliotis seek to redress the balance by analysing data from a previous study by Triseliotis et al (2005) from adoptive fathers' point of view. That study examined the experiences of a large cohort of adoptive parents whose son or daughter had searched or been sought. Most adoptive parents expressed overall satisfaction with the outcome of contact, but there were inevitable strains. By exploring whether or not the anxieties, stress levels and experiences of adoptive fathers differ significantly from those of adoptive mothers, we hope to provide a greater understanding of how adoptive fathers manage the search and reunion process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]