Instability in adoptive families: perspectives of young adult adoptees and adoptive parents

• NSCAW Adoption Study (n = 383) of young adult adoptees (23 years) and adoptive parents. • Post adoption instability: 8% formal, 24% informal, a cumulative 33% any instability. • Age at adoption and clinical behavioral issues were associated with instability. • Controlling for covariates, only behavioral issues were associated with instability. While adoption is often conceptualized as a permanent solution for children in foster care, it does not uniformly result in family stability or a sense of belonging within the adoptive family. Drawing on data from the NSCAW Adoption Study of 383 adoptive families, this study employed descriptive analyses and logistic regression to examine the prevalence and correlates of both formal (foster care reentry) and informal (e.g., homelessness or running away, events not captured in foster care administrative data systems) post adoption instability, using reports from young adult adoptees and adoptive parents of young adults. Of 383 respondents, 32 (8%) experienced formal instability and another 93 (24%) reported informal instability; a cumulative 125 (33%) experienced any form of instability. Despite these disruptions, a substantial proportion of respondents reporting instability—47% of young adults and 79% of adoptive parents—also reported a strong sense of belonging. These findings highlight the complexity of adoptive family experiences and underscore the importance of continued research in this area and service development to support long-term adoptive family functioning and well-being.