Mediating Role of the Child’s Temperament on the Relationship Between Mother/Father’s Adoptive Parenting and Adoptee’s Social Skills: Hybrid Dyadic Analyses

Adoption provides a unique opportunity to study the concurrent effect of child’s biology-based characteristics and environmental influences on the adoptees’ development. Herein, two Hybrid Dyadic Models—an innovation in adoption research—were tested to study the mediating role of the adoptees’ negative reactivity on the relationship between mothers/fathers’ supportive (Model A) and unsupportive (Model B) parenting, and adoptees’ social skills. In a sample of 102 couples, mothers’/fathers’ reports on adoptees’ social skills and negative reactivity, and self-reports of supportive/unsupportive parenting were studied. Mothers’ and fathers’ supportive/unsupportive parenting were independently assessed, whereas the adoptees’ negative reactivity and social skills were treated as common fate variables, with both parents’ scores as indicators of a latent construct. Results were non-significant for Model A. Regarding Model B, different relationship patterns were found depending on the informant (mother/father). Higher fathers’ (not mothers’) unsupportive parenting was associated with higher negative reactivity in adoptees, which, in turn, was associated with lower adoptees’ social skills. Considering simultaneously unique and shared perspectives of both parents, this study advances adoption research strengthening the relevance of dyadic analyses when studying the adoptive family dynamics and suggests the need to consider mothers’ and fathers’ different contributions for adoptive parenting.