Changes in the self-concept of parents who have adopted a child

The thesis is dedicated to changing the self-concept of parents who have adopted a child. The aim of the thesis is to explore how parents who have adopted a child perceive and evaluate changes in their self-concept. How these changes are perceived by mothers and fathers. How the perception of self-concept changed throughout adoption decisions, adoption processes, and adaptation to parenthood. The theoretical part of the thesis deals with parenting, substitute family care and the adoption process. It also describes the identity, role and self-concept of the parent, then the adaptation and the specifics of adoptive parenting. The practical part represents qualitative research that is done through semi-structured interviews with parents who have adopted a child. The results of the research resulting from the data analysis are interpreted and compared with specialist literature. Self-perception changed due to the burden that respondents had to cope with, from coping with childlessness to adaptation and becoming the parent of an adopted child. Perceived changes in the self-concept of fathers and mothers are somewhat different, but they basically result from different positions in the family and their role. Keywords: parenting, adoption, self-concept, substitute family car