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This study is made from a practical standpoint. I shall endeavor to answer some of the questions that may arise in the minds of prospective parents as they consider the adoption of a child. There are many questions that will not be answered because the problems involved are so broad and take in so many angles that it is impossible to consider them all. The central problem itself begins when prospective adoptive parents first consider adopting a child.

The increase in transracial adoption in modern society has not been without some controversy over its practice. Conflicting studies, have exposed and given rise to greater sensitivity to the impact of transracial adoption on adoptees-. As noted, prior studies have indicated that Korean adoptees adjust well to their environment (Feigelman & Silverman, Kim, 1977, 1978; Simon, 1974); however, some studies indicate a negative outcome (Chestang, 1972; Chimezie, 1975) and some ethnic groups (i.e., Native Americans and The National Association of Black Social Workers) have discouraged the practice of transracial adoption. In an attempt to clarify such issues surrounding transracial adoption, the purpose of this study was to explore the impact of adoption on adult Korean adoptees.This study examined whether acculturation, assimilation, cultural identity, age of placement of Korean adoptees, and revisiting Korea play a role in self-concept. In addition, this study wanted to look at whether the positive initial adjustment found in Kim's (1977; 1978) studies continued into adulthood for Korean adoptees. Adjustment was based upon self-concept. The results from this study indicated that acculturation, assimilation, cultural identity, placement of Korean adoptees, and revisit of Korea had little influence in self-concept. As noted, the results indicated that: 1) acculturation was only related to Verbal self-concept; 2) revisiting Korea did not predict self-concept; however, cultural identity did play an important part in self concept; 3) age of placement of Korean adoptees related only to Verbal, Math, and Honesty self-concept; and 4) in general, positive adjustment based upon self-concept appeared to continue into adulthood for Korean adoptees.In summary, adjustment for Korean adoptees appeared to continue into adulthood. In addition, cultural identity appeared not to relate to Korean adoptees' self-concept. However, as noted, there needs to be further studies due to the limitations of this study, particularly the measurements. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

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In this thesis I utilize sociological theories on deviance, published research on adoption, and surveys of 41 adoptees and 15 adoptive parents in order to address four primary questions: 1.What factors have influenced adoption historically, and continue to influence current practices? 2.In what ways does the legal system treat the adoptive family differently than the consanguine family? 3.Is there a stigma associated with adoption? 4.What factors are associated with adoptees' decision to search, or not to search, for their biological parents? Adoption practices have been heavily influenced by the supply of and demand for children, and the stigma associated with illegitimacy, unwed motherhood, and infertility. Despite the fact that adoption legislation in most states creates the adoptive family "as if" it were a biological family, numerous examples of the differential treatment of adoptive and biological families are explored. From inheritance legislation to health insurance coverage, adoptees and adoptive families are often treated differently vis a vis non-adoptees and biological families. The stigma associated with the varying triad members, birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoptees, is explored in the context of adoption as deviant. From the sometimes negative perception of adoptees and adoptive families, to the legally mandated differential treatment of these groups, a theory concerning the origin of adoption stigma and its perpetuation in society is offered. Interviews with adoptees support existing literature that suggests that significant life events,similarity of characteristics between the adoptee and his or her adoptive family, communication about adoption in the adoptive home, and the amount of information about the birth family are all factors that may motivate adoptees to seek out their biological relatives. Sociological deviance theories are used to examine the many issues addressed in this thesis. A central and recurring point is that the legal institution of adoption is not as legitimate a method of family formation as is biological parenthood. Furthermore the adoptee and the adoptive parents may be subject to being labeled as deviant for their role within the triad. / Master of Science

The present study evaluated the applicability of the theory of planned behavior (TRP, Ajzen, 1988: Ajzen and Fishbein) to the prediction and understanding of a young woman's intentions to raise or place her child for adoption. During a woman's second and third trimester of pregnancy self-report measures were administered assessing a woman's intentions, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control about both pregnancy resolution choices (i.e., raising or placing a child for adoption). Participants were 52 Caucasian women (26 who placed; 26 who raised) ranging in age from 15-32 (M =19). In most respects the findings supported the TPB. However, subjective norms did not significantly enter the regression model in predicting behavioral intentions due to the multicollinearity between it and attitudes. Consequently, subjective norms was replaced by its salient measure of normative beliefs in another regression model. This hierarchical regression analyses revealed that attitudes, normative beliefs, perceived behavioral control and age significantly predicted a woman's intention to raise or place her child. A logistic regression revealed that behavioral intention was the single best predictor for the final pregnancy resolution behavior, suggesting that it successfully mediated the influences of all other variables studied. Further analysis revealed that women who placed versus those who raised their children differed on a number of behavioral beliefs, outcome evaluations, normative beliefs, and control beliefs. / Master of Science

This study investigated the communication experiences of adoptive parents of children transracially adopted from Vietnam. Though adoption has been extensively studied in communication research, transracial adoptions involving children from Vietnam has not. Thus, this study examined adoptive parent communication experiences using dialectic theory and relational dialectics. By examining adoptive parents’ communication with their adopted child and others, we can determine tensions that occur in different communication experiences. Data were collected through eight qualitative in-depth interviews conducted with adoptive parents of children from Vietnam. Openness with both strangers and the adopted child(ren) and preservation of key aspects of the adopted children’s original culture emerged as themes in adoptive parent communication. Theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.

The enormous amount of African American children in the foster care system is a concern for many professional social workers, and others who are interested in this issue.

Overall attitudes, beliefs, and values have been shown to effect how individuals evaluate and process information. This knowledge is important and relevant to the practice of social work. Social workers are expected to put their attitudes, values, and perceptions aside when working with their clients. Attitudes are effecting processing and evaluation of events, therefore, it is imortant to understand the possible implications of workers perceptions and attitudes. Highly embedded attitudes toward transracial adoption, will influenceSocial workers behavior.

Life story methods were used to explore the contextual factors that influenced the experiences and identity formation of seven Native American adults who were transracially adopted prior to the passage of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978. These methods provided a deeper understanding of how these individuals have integrated their adoption experiences into their evolving sense of self. The life story methodology offered a way to acknowledge and validate participants' life experiences and allowed for the collection of rich information from the perspectives of the adoptees. The life story interviews were structured to gather information on the influence of one's adoptive family and cultural, social, and educational experiences on participants' developing sense of self. Even though an interview guide was developed for use in the study, each story uniquely unfolded in a manner the participant was comfortable sharing. The study examined the life stories for patterns or emerging themes related to identity development at different points in the narrators' life cycles in order to develop an aggregate account of the contextual factors influencing identity formation as well as a collective understanding of sense of self. The study identified 12 contextual factors that have both positively and negatively influenced identity development among the participants throughout their lifespan. These factors are: (1) adoptive family; (2) community; (3) educational experiences; (4) religion/spirituality; (5) travel; (6) exposure to cultural experiences; (7) employment; (8) friendships; (9) peer groups; (10) military; (11) societal messages, and (12) reconnection to tribal heritage. Overall, findings from this study suggest that the majority of participants have developed strong Native American, multi-cultural, and/or bi-cultural identities that incorporate their various experiences as transracial adoptees. Practice considerations for transracial adoptees as well as adoptive parents are suggested. Policy implications relating to granting access to original birth and/or adoption related records are presented. Finally, future research recommendations are offered specific to Native American transracial adoptees, their biological families, and tribal communities from which they adopted. While the practice, policy, and research recommendations are specific to Native American transracial adoptees, the recommendations may have broader implications to a wider population of adoptees in general.