KMAN Publication Inc. (KMANPUB) Applied Family Therapy Journal (AFTJ) 3041-8798 In Press 2027 07 01 Designing a Conceptual Model of Family Relationship Quality among Adoptive Couples: A Meta-Synthesis Study Designing a Conceptual Model of Family Relationship Quality among Adoptive Couples: A Meta-Synthesis Study 1 24 EN Journal Article 2026 06 24 <p><strong>Objective:</strong> This study aimed to develop a comprehensive conceptual model of family relationship quality among adoptive couples by synthesizing evidence from previous qualitative and empirical studies.</p> <p><strong>Methods and Materials:</strong> This qualitative study was conducted using a meta-synthesis approach based on the seven-step model proposed by Sandelowski and Barroso (2007). A systematic search was performed in relevant national and international scientific databases using keywords related to adoption, adoptive couples, family relationships, marital relationships, parent–child relationships, and family cohesion. After identifying potentially relevant records, the studies were screened according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria and subsequently subjected to methodological quality appraisal. Ultimately, 20 eligible articles were included in the final synthesis. Data extracted from the selected studies were organized into initial codes and analyzed through secondary coding, conceptual comparison, and thematic integration. The codes were progressively classified into concepts, categories, and overarching themes to construct the final conceptual model.</p> <p><strong>Findings:</strong> The meta-synthesis indicated that family relationship quality among adoptive couples is a multidimensional phenomenon shaped by the interaction of psychological–identity, relational, and sociocultural factors. Psychological and identity-related challenges included unresolved infertility grief, anxiety, feelings of inadequacy, and difficulties in reconstructing parental identity. At the relational level, the quality of parent–child attachment, marital cohesion, emotional communication, mutual support, and adaptive patterns of interaction emerged as central determinants of family stability. Sociocultural influences included adoption-related stigma, social pressure, cultural attitudes, and limitations in formal and institutional support. Conversely, adequate social support, access to counseling services, cultural acceptance, and supportive family environments facilitated psychological adjustment, relational cohesion, and positive adaptation following adoption.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Adoption should be conceptualized as a dynamic and transformative family process rather than a single event. The proposed model demonstrates that favorable family relationships emerge through the reciprocal interaction of psychological adjustment, effective couple and parent–child relationships, and supportive sociocultural conditions. The model may provide a useful framework for assessment, counseling, and interventions designed to strengthen family functioning among adoptive couples.</p> https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/aftj/article/download/6405/11872