Ethnic identity and psychological adjustment in transracial adoptees: a review of the literature

Boivin, Mylène; Hassan, Ghayda

doi:10.1080/01419870.2014.992922

Cited by 24 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(89 reference statements)

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“…Future studies should more thoroughly explore the role of openness in communication regarding adoption, especially with fathers, and test whether the association between parent‐child openness and adoptees' well‐being may be mediated by differential identity processes. For example, based on a number of studies suggesting the crucial role played by ethnic identity in promoting adoptees' psychosocial development (Boivin & Hassan, 2015; Ferrari et al, 2015b) and the intertwinement between adoptive and ethnic identity (e.g., Beaupre et al, 2015; Grotevant, 1997), a further but related avenue for future research may be to consider both adoptive and ethnic identity dimensions as mediators in the association between adoption communication openness and adoptees' psychological well‐being.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adoptees facing adolescence: What accounts for their psychological well‐being?

Ranieri

Ferrari

Danioni

et al. 2021

Journal of Adolescence

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Introduction:In accordance with the "resilience paradigm", this study was aimed at exploring the role of the parent-child relationship in supporting internationally adopted adolescents' ability to develop a strong adoptive identity and a feeling of satisfaction with their own life. Methods: Participants were 105 Italian adopted adolescents (13-17 years) asked to complete a self-report questionnaire. Results: Results showed that adolescents generally feel fairly comfortable discussing adoptionrelated issues (especially with their mothers), have a medium-high level of adoptive identity, and appear to be quite satisied with their life. Moreover, while adoptive identity mediates the association between openness in communication regarding adoption and adoptees' well-being with mothers, father-child communication openness has a direct inluence on well-being. Conclusions: Findings highlighted that the quality of mother-child and father-child relationship plays a crucial role in guiding the process of adoptees' identity formation and inluencing their well-being. Recommendations for professionals working with adoptive families were discussed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adoptees facing adolescence: What accounts for their psychological well‐being?

Ranieri

Ferrari

Danioni

et al. 2021

Journal of Adolescence

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“…Given the mixed findings regarding the associations between racial socialization, identity development, and psychological adjustment in TRA children, Boivin and Hassan (2015) noted that qualitative designs "can help explore the complexity and the context-bound dynamic links" between these constructs. More research is needed to assess the perceived effects of racial socialization messages for Asian TRA children in particular, as the majority of studies and theories of racial socialization in same-race and adoptive families have historically centered on Black and African American children (Priest et al, 2014).…”

Section: The Present Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“I’m learning not to tell you”: Korean transracial adoptees’ appraisals of parental racial socialization strategies and perceived effects.

Chang¹,

Feldman²,

Easley³

2017

Asian American Journal of Psychology

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Although studies generally find that transracially adopted children who are socialized in their birth or ethnic culture report higher levels of psychological well-being, studies of racial socialization report conflicting results (Boivin & Hassan, 2015). These inconsistencies highlight the complexity and distinctiveness of racial socialization processes and the need to better understand how parental messages about racial diversity and racism are experienced across developmental periods. Drawing on constructivist and poststructuralist paradigms, 8 focus groups explored the racial socialization narratives of 34 Korean American transracially adopted adults raised by White parents. The aims were to explore subjective experiences of parental racial socialization strategies and their perceived effect on identity development and other key areas of functioning. Analysis of focus group transcripts was informed by grounded theory and narrative frameworks. Parent socialization strategies were classified as avoidant (color-blind or passive/child-choice), ambivalent, or engaged (active/ child-focused or participatory/multicultural family). Avoidant and ambivalent approaches were most common and reinforced by participants' own desire for racial sameness in childhood. As participants traversed middle childhood and adolescence, they increasingly viewed avoidant and ambivalent parents as vulnerable, biased, and ill equipped to handle the racial realities of their lives. The perceived fragility of these parents led participants to suppress stories of racial marginalization and oppression, created distance in the relationship, impeded the process of identity exploration, and left them unprepared to cope with racist events. What is the public significance of this article?This study suggests that White parents' avoidance and ambivalence around race-related issues affecting their transracially adopted Korean American children have adverse effects that vary across developmental periods. In adolescence, parents' perceived fragility on matters of race led participants to suppress stories of racism, created distance in the relationship, impeded identity exploration, and left them unprepared to cope with racist events.

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“…Although the self-esteem of adoptees is comparable with that of the general population (Juffer and van IJzendoorn, 2007), identity issues have been described by several researchers (Caballero, et al., 2012; Hübinette and Andersson, 2012; Lind, 2012; Rushton, et al., 2012). Several studies report a significant association between racial, cultural and ethnic socialisation and strong ethnic identity with higher self-esteem and well-being (Basow, et al., 2008; Mohanty, 2013) although others are less conclusive (Boivin and Hassan, 2015; Castle, Knight and Watters, 2011). For example, Tieman and colleagues (2008) showed that young adult adoptees searching for roots had more psychiatric problems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The relation between adult adoptees’ feelings about relinquishment, adoption and satisfaction with life

Meulen¹,

Smeets

Juffer

2019

Adoption & Fostering

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Previous studies have revealed that despite adversity in early childhood, after adoption intercountry adoptees show a substantial catch-up in physical, socio-emotional and cognitive development and do relatively well in life. However, these favourable situations do not necessarily match positive views of their earlier experiences when recalled as adults. This study explores this relationship: namely adult adoptees' appraisal of relinquishment and adoption, and their satisfaction with life. It analyses questionnaire replies from 1155 adult intercountry adoptees in the Netherlands, originating from 32 countries and now aged between 18 and 55. Their mean age at the time of the research was 29 and they had arrived in the Netherlands at an average age of 1.34 years. It was found that the respondents were mostly satisfied with their lives, even more so than the wider Dutch population. Moreover, the more positive their feelings about relinquishment and adoption the higher the levels of life satisfaction. Most adoptees felt positive about being adopted although a minority (about 10%) often had negative feelings about adoption. The majority indicated that they had become more satisfied with their adoption status as they grew older; however, those who were older at the time of the study were less happy with this /home/aaf and also less satisfied with their lives in general. This probably reflects improvements in adoption practice since the 1990s, in particular the provision of good quality pre-and post-adoption support services. These findings highlight the value of therapeutic work with adoptees that includes a focus on their feelings about both relinquishment and adoption, with the expectation that this will improve their well-being and life satisfaction. KeywordsIntercountry adoption, adulthood, satisfaction with life, appraisal of relinquishment, appraisal of adoption Femmie Juffer is a professor by Special Appointment of Adoption Studies at the Leiden University, the Netherlands.ter Meulen et al.

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Ethnic identity and psychological adjustment in transracial adoptees: a review of the literature

Cited by 24 publications

References 38 publications

Adoptees facing adolescence: What accounts for their psychological well‐being?

Adoptees facing adolescence: What accounts for their psychological well‐being?

“I’m learning not to tell you”: Korean transracial adoptees’ appraisals of parental racial socialization strategies and perceived effects.

The relation between adult adoptees’ feelings about relinquishment, adoption and satisfaction with life

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