Abstract
This study follows up a sample of transracial and inracial children adopted in infancy in the mid-1970s. The present report, based on 1993 data, covers parental assessments when children were in their early twenties (subject's mean age = 23). In this report I compare inracially adopted White young adults (N = 37), with transracially adopted Asians (N = 151), African-Americans (N = 33) and Latinos (N = 19). Comparisons show no significant adjustment deficits for the subgroups of transracial adoptees in comparison with their inracially adopted White peers. Adjustment problems vary considerably among the transracially adopted young adults; discrimination against the transracial adoptee, and discomfort about their appearance are found as significant correlates associated with adjustment difficulties. Parents report fewer adoptees feeling uneasy about their appearances, when adoptive families live in racially heterogenous settings.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barth, R.P. and Berry, M. (1988) Adoption and Disruption, New York: Aldine de Gruyter.
Barth, R.P. and Brooks, D. (1997) "A Longitudinal Study of Family Structure and Size and Adoption Outcomes," Adoption Quarterly, Vol. 1 (1), pp. 29–55.
Bausch, R.S. and Serpe, RT, (1997) "Negative Outcomes of Interethnic Adoption of Mexican American Children," Social Work, Vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 136–143.
Endicott, J., Spitzer, R.L., Fleiss, J.L., and Cohen, J. (1976) "The Global Assessment Scale," Archives of General Psychiatry, 33, 766–771.
Fanshel, D. (1972) Far From the Reservation: The Transracial Adoption of American Indian Children, Metuchen, NJ: The Scarecrow Press.
Feigelman, W. (1997) "Adopted Adults: Comparisons with Persons Raised in Conventional Families," Marriage and Family Review, Vol. 25, Nos. 3/4, pp. 199–223.
Feigelman, W. and Silverman, A.R. (1983) Chosen Children: New Patterns of Adoptive Relationships, New York: Praeger.
Grow, L. and Shapiro, D. (1974) Black Children-White Parents: A Study of Transracial Adoption, New York: Child Welfare League of America.
Howard, A., Royse, D.D., and Skerl, J.A. (1977) "Transracial Adoption: The Black Community Perspective, Social Work, 22, pp. 184–189.
Kim, D.S. (1976) "Intercountry Adoptions: A Study of Self Concept of Adolescent Korean Children Who Were Adopted by American Families, unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, University of Chicago.
Ladner, J. (1977) Mixed Families, Garden City, NY: Doubleday Anchor.
McRoy, R. and Zurcher, L.A. (1983) Transracial and Inracial Adoptees, Springfield, IL: CC Thomas.
Shireman J. and Johnson, P. (1988) Growing Up Adopted, Chicago: Chicago Child Care Society.
Simon, R.J. (1978) "Black Attitudes Toward Transracial Adoption," Phylon, 39, 135–142.
Simon, R.J., Altstein H., and Melli, M.S. (1994) The Case for Transracial Adoption, Washington, DC: American University Press.
Simon, R.J., and Altstein H. (1977) Transracial Adoptees and Their Families, New York Wiley.
Simon, R.J. and Altstein H. (1992) Adoption, Race and Identity: From Infancy Through Adolescence, NY Praeger.
Vroegh, K. (1992) Transracial Adoption: How it is 17 Years Later," unpublished report, Chicago Child Care Society, Chicago, April.
Zastrow, C.H. (1977) Outcome of Black Children-White Parent Transracial Adoptions, San Francisco, CA: R & E Research Associates.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Feigelman, W. Adjustments of Transracially and Inracially Adopted Young Adults. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal 17, 165–183 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007531829378
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007531829378