Log in
Log in
Marte Meo Magazine
-
The Marte Meo Method As A Means Of Supporting New Adoptive Parents
Published:2011, June
Author:Gunnel Osterman & Anders Möller, Ingegerd Wirtberg
Keywords:Attachment | Interaction | International adoption | Intervention | Marte Meo Method
Summary
Marte Meo Magazine 2011 | Article 07E
The Marte Meo Method As A Means Of Supporting New Adoptive Parents
GUNNEL OSTERMAN & ANDERS MÖLLER | are Doctoral student and Professor, Nordic School of Public Health, Gothenburg, Sweden
INGEGERD WIRTBERG | Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Lund, Sweden
Aim:
The study discussed here by GUNNEL OSTERMAN, ANDERS MÖLLER and INGEGERD WIRTBERG aimed to find out if any observable themes or patterns recur when using the Marte Meo (MM) method with adoptive parents, and if the parents feel that working with this method helps them to interact with their child. The study used qualitative methods and comprised two parts:
Read more- use of the MM method with couples who had adopted their first child within the past two months, and
- semi-structured interviews with the parents.
The study group consisted of seven parent couples, who had adopted children aged 5-15 months from overseas.
The principle of the MM method is for the child’s need to be approached at its own tempo and rhythm. It encourages and motivates the parents to adjust their interplay to the child’s actual behaviour, leading to better adjustment to the child’s tempo and rhythm. This is important because initial video filming reveals that most parents adopt a tempo that is too fast for their child. During this initial period, the MM method may be one way of working to meet adoptive parents’ need for advice and support in their efforts to be sensitive to the developmental needs of their child.
Introduction:
The history of adoption is as long as the history of the human race. But the adoption of children from other countries flourished after World War II, when thousands of European children were orphaned. Sweden now admits about 750 internationally adopted children per year. Half of them are under the age of two when they arrive, with the majority coming from China, Korea, Vietnam and Colombia (MIA, 2009).
In the work discussed, we shall focus on Marte Meo(2) as an intervention with families who have newly completed an international adoption. It is part of a research and development project entitled The Marte Meo Method for Newly Adoptive Families at the Partille Infant Care Unit in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Close