Parental perceived discrimination as a postadoption risk factor for internationally adopted children and adolescents.

Abstract

Parental perceived discrimination was investigated as a risk factor in a U.S. sample of 1,579 internationally adopted children ages 5 to 18 years. Drawing on stress proliferation theory, we hypothesized a positive association between parental perceived discrimination and child problem behaviors, controlling for preadoption adversity. We also expected differences by world region and age of the child. Adoptive parents with Asian and Latin American children reported more discrimination than parents with Eastern European children. Perceived discrimination was uniquely associated with greater problem behaviors for adopted children from Asia and Latin America, with the strongest association among Latin American adolescents. The study findings highlight the need to study postadoption risk factors related to adoption and minority status for internationally adopted individuals and families.

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

“…Some authors suggest such a link, but do not assess it (Lee and MIAP 2010;Friedlander et al 2000). Of those who do, Basow et al (2008), DeBerry, Scarr, andWeinberg (1996) and Yoon (2000Yoon ( , 2004 observed a positive association between racial socialization and ethnic identity, and in turn psychological adjustment.…”

“…Moreover, participants' age may have affected the results; identity concerns are usually associated with adolescence and young adulthood, while many authors conducted their studies with adoptees younger than ten years (e.g. Friedlander et al 2000;Lee and MIAP 2010;Huh and Reid 2000) and/or with a large sample age range (e.g. Lee and MIAP (2010) with participants aged five to eighteen years).…”

“…Friedlander et al 2000;Lee and MIAP 2010;Huh and Reid 2000) and/or with a large sample age range (e.g. Lee and MIAP (2010) with participants aged five to eighteen years). It is difficult to compare results with such large age ranges both in terms of intra-group and crossstudies comparison, partly because younger participants enter the identity negotiation process while older ones are exiting it.…”

Adoption as a Contingency of Self-worth: An Integrative Approach to Self-esteem in Adopted Individuals

“…Nonetheless, social stigma continues to be identified as a significant challenge to members of marginalized social groups, and research does support its influence as a detriment to healthy psychological development in adopted persons (Lee, 2010). The social stigma surrounding adoption and the concept of birth privilege are viewed here as major components to underlying processes of self-esteem.…”

“…As such, the pressure associated with birth privilege may produce lasting consequences for the formation of internalized attitudes toward one's own adoptive status, subsequent actions toward integration of adoption as a contingency of self-worth, and ultimately, the development of self-esteem as an adopted person. While connections between discrimination and poor psychological functioning have been proposed in adopted persons (Lee, 2010), implications of social forces on the formation of selfesteem remain largely unincorporated in mainstream adoption theory.…”