Adoption disruption, signifying the breakdown of a once promising child protection solution, not only challenges the permanence envisioned in adoption but also leaves adoptive parents grappling with profound emotional, psychological, and social consequences. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of adoptive parents in Zimbabwe who have navigated adoption disruption, focusing on its emotional toll, psychological strain, and social stigma while identifying systemic and cultural factors that shape these experiences. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), thirteen adoptive parents were recruited through convenience sampling and interviewed using a semi-structured guide informed by Trauma Theory. Four dominant themes emerged from the data: overwhelming emotional turbulence, crippling psychological strain, social alienation, and stigma, and lingering emotional scars from unresolved trauma. Parents described cycles of guilt, grief, and helplessness, exacerbated by inadequate pre- and post-adoption support and pervasive societal stigma. The findings reveal that adoption disruption is not merely an event but a persistent trauma that reshapes adoptive parents’ identities, relationships, and emotional landscapes. The study highlights the urgent need for trauma-informed adoption practices, including pre-adoption training on managing behavioral challenges, accessible post-adoption counseling and peer support, and community awareness campaigns to reduce stigma and foster resilience among adoptive parents.
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Taruvinga Muzingili (2025) studied this question.