Exploring the attachment-related representational and emotional trajectory from late adoption to early adulthood: A longitudinal qualitative study

Given the links between childhood maltreatment, attachment representations and affect regulation and the research gap in both longitudinal and qualitative designs addressing such topics, this study explores the attachment-related representational and emotional trajectories of three late-adopted women from childhood to early adulthood. A reflexive thematic analysis drew upon data from three different measures (the Story Stem Assessment Profile, Friends and Family Interview and Adult Attachment Interview). Data analysis illustrated the elaborative handling of negative emotions, the conflictual – yet eventually repaired – internal representations of parents, an oscillation between neediness and independence, and the appreciation of childhood bliss. Such findings provide insights on the attachment-related outcomes of late-adopted individuals in adulthood and serve as a theoretical basis for the implementation of related policies in adoption services.