title: Bridging the divide: openness in adoption and postadoption psychosocial adjustment among birth and adoptive parents.
abstract: Using 323 matched parties of birth mothers and adoptive parents, this study examined the association between the degree of adoption openness (e.g., contact and knowledge between parties) and birth and adoptive parents' postadoption adjustment shortly after the adoption placement (6 to 9 months). Data from birth fathers (N = 112), an understudied sample, were also explored. Openness was assessed by multiple informants. Results indicated that openness was significantly related to satisfaction with adoption process among adoptive parents and birth mothers. Increased openness was positively associated with birth mothers' postplacement adjustment, as indexed by birth mothers' self-reports and the interviewers' impression of birth mothers' adjustment. Birth fathers' report of openness was associated with their greater satisfaction with the adoption process and better postadoption adjustment.
authors: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
authors: Xiaojia
authors: X
authors: Ge
authors: Misaki N
authors: MN
authors: Natsuaki
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: Martin
authors: Leslie D
authors: LD
authors: Leve
authors: Jenae M
authors: JM
authors: Neiderhiser
authors: Daniel S
authors: DS
authors: Shaw
authors: Georgette
authors: G
authors: Villareal
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Scaramella
authors: John B
authors: JB
authors: Reid
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Reiss
mesh_terms: D000300:Adoption; D002648:Child; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D036801:Parturition; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011584:Psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires