Adolescents' feelings about openness in adoption: implications for adoption agencies.
Adoption research commonly uses parents' reports of satisfaction when examining openness in adoption arrangements. This qualitative study aimed to fill a gap in the adoption research by using adolescents' voices to gain a better understanding of their adoption experiences. Adopted adolescents (n = 152) were interviewed concerning their satisfaction with the openness in their adoption arrangements with their birthmothers. Results and implications from this study may affect how adoption agencies work with adopted adolescents and their families, and may influence a broader understanding of the recent trend toward open adoption arrangements.
Berge
Jerica M
JM
Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Mendenhall
Tai J
TJ
Wrobel
Gretchen M
GM
Grotevant
Harold D
HD
McRoy
Ruth G
RG
D000293:Adolescent; D000300:Adoption / Q000523:psychology*; D001290:Attitude; D004644:Emotions; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007062:Identification, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D014481:United States