Preview

Open Adoption Research Paper

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1560 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Open Adoption Research Paper
Citation:
Siegel, D. (2003). Open adoption of infants: adoptive parent’s feelings seven years later. Social Work,48(3), 409-419. doi:sw/48.3.409

Research Question:
Although, it is not primarily a question itself, this study focuses on adoptive parents’ perceptions of their infants’ open adoptions seven years ago, as well as exploring the parents’ reaction now that their children are school age.

Key Questions/ Issues guiding the study:
This type of study is defined as a qualitative descriptive study because the study itself is observing the changes in the openness of adoptions over time. The study also used four dimensions and how much open adoptions vary by definition. Before this study was conducted, most adoptions were known to be “closed”
…show more content…
The author of this article, Deborah Siegel, described open adoption as several different levels and processes. She provided detail with “open” adoption verse “semi open” adoption. There have been different spectrums provided for social workers and agencies to help guide families in the process. One specific one, that the study focuses on is, Grotevant and McRoy’s spectrum. This spectrum discussed openness and had different degrees and different ways of contact and communication that an adoptive family might have with that child’s birth mother. Researchers have done their best to allow the definition be broad, that way there is not specific guideline in which a family has indeed should follow with adoption. The researchers tried finding ways in which social workers and agencies can help describe to a family what an open adoption is like and how other families describe it. There has yet to be a true study on this, which is why Siegel developed a study of following open adoption families. Several questions from this research were focused on and there was an attempt to answer them such as, “What, if any, form of open adoption meets human needs?” (Siegel, 2003, p. 411). …show more content…
One being, open adoption is not easily defined to the public. It goes on to describe how every adoption is different and not one single one is the same. The study also guided to show that birth parents were comfortable with the adopted families and glad it worked out. It also focused on the adoptive parents and how they feel towards contact with the birth parent’s. The study also showed how open adoption can change at any point over time just like a relationship with humans. Lastly, the findings show that social workers should have a responsibility with educating the public on open

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Did you know that in 2008, 135,813 children were adopted in the United States of America? When I was sixteen my adoption changed my life. It was one of the most exhilarating and terrifying days of my life because I didn’t know what to expect. My adoption was emotional for me and all my family it impacted not only my life but many of the people around me lives as well. Everyday changes our life in some way shape or form however, some days have more of a lasting impact than others. My adoption was also part of an award ceremony for one of the judges. My adoption was an extremely positively impacting moment that was filled with joy and love from everyone around.…

    • 1010 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The article Why Adoptees Need To Find Their Biological Parents by Stephen Betchen is about finding closure between an adoptee and their biological parents. At the age of forty Betchen's adopted parents had already passed away and after waiting so long, he wanted to find his biological parents. Because he did not receive any medical records, he has a fear of dropping dead at any moment, which is why he wanted to see his biological parents to get them. Betchen having a daughter, finds it difficult to claim her as his own. Betchen writes about how adopted people sometimes feel like they don't belong. He also writes about how adoptees have the idea that they should be financially stable just in case they get put up for adoption again. Betchen does…

    • 303 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The short story written by James Hurst “The Scarlet Ibis” explains that a selfish deed is not always bad. The story starts with the narrator, Brother, and his little brother Doodle. When Doodle was being born, he was red, and all shriveled up, a disappointment, and everyone thought he would die. When their mother always told Brother to take Doodle with him everywhere he went, Brother is embarrassed to be seen with his 5 year-old brother, who couldn’t walk, but had to be pulled everywhere in a mini go-cart. The narrator made it his mission to set out to teach Doodle to walk and everything else, so he wasn’t behind everyone in his grade. One day they went to Horsehead Landing, so narrator could teach Doodle how to swim but there came a lightning storm.…

    • 488 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    CNDV 5301 Assignment 2

    • 1030 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Question #1: As noted in the reading, Marcovitch et al. (1997) found relatively low rates of secure attachment among children adopted from Romanian orphanages and their adoptive mothers. Specifically, they found that 30% of the adopted children were securely attached, compared to 42% of a comparison sample of biologically related (raised at home) mother−child pairs. [Full reference: Marcovitch, S. G., Gold, A., Washington, J., Wasson, C., Krekewich, K., & Handley-Derry, M. (1997). Determinants of behavioral problems in Romanian children adopted in Ontario. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 20(1), 17–31.] Note, however, that the authors do not provide a comparison sample of children adopted at birth (i.e., noninstitutionalized). Does this finding reflect something about adoption in general, or does it reflect something about institutionalization of infants?…

    • 1030 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The issuesregarding this included some argued that its assessment of adoption applicants should focus specifically on “ the best interet of the child” in terms of the suitability of the couple instead of the sex of the couple. The adoption of a child should merely be focused on the child’s safety and wellbeing of being adopted, instead of the sex of the parents.…

    • 1145 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Have you ever agonized over giving up your child and the only option was to give away your baby never to be seen or heard from again for eighteen years? Well, the good news is that this does not have to happen. There is such a thing called open adoption agreements. And more and more parents are leaning towards this option. Even though the open adoption agreement says limited contact, there are cases where the biological parents get cut off, never to their child again.…

    • 784 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    According to the Cambridge dictionary, adoption is “the act of taking another person's child legally into your family to raise as your own child.” It quickly became a very popular thing to do in the mid-1900s. Since then, adoption has been a very common topic of conversation, more so of argument. Similar to a myriad of other controversial topics, people have their own opinions; many people are actually against adoption and could sit down and write a whole list of reasons why adopting a child is a terrible idea. However, many of those people never take into account all of the positives that come with adopting a child. Adoption is an amazing, indescribable act that I look forward to being a part of in the future. Just like almost everything in this imperfect world, adoption has its cons. As well, adoption has its pros; I believe that the more people partake in it, the better we can make the lives of children in need.…

    • 1121 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Essay On Closed Adoption

    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Adoption is the social and emotional process in which children, who will not be raised by their birth parents, become full and permanent legal members of another family. Also while maintaining genetic connections to their birth family. Open adoption is when birthmothers or birthparents have adoptive families have an interaction with one another including the adopted child. The interaction of the adoptive child with the birth family includes writing letters, sending e-mails, telephone calls, and especially visits with one another. The introduction of openness into the process of adoption offers new opportunities for children in need of a parent or parents or especially just wishing to expand on the family. Closed adoption also known as “Confidential Adoption” are files of the birth parents are sealed and never will be revealed unless approval of both parties (FindLaw). There is no interaction of birthmothers and the adoptive family.…

    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Closed Adoptions

    • 327 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Closed adoptions are adoptions in which the birthparents of the adopted child have no contact with the child after he/she is adopted or with the adoptive parents. No identifying information is provided to the adoptive family or the adopted child. Closed adoptions are controversial because they basically cut off all connections between the child and the birthparents. The child may never know who their birthparents are and they may have many questions that may remain unanswered. Many people think that these situations can cause problems with the child and the birthparents. We plan to show how closed adoptions are beneficial to the adopted child.…

    • 327 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Each of our articles focuses on a different aspect such as the different effects of an open adoption compared to a closed adoption, or the mental health and behavioral problems of the adopted child. According to an article titled Behavior problems and mental health referrals of international adoptees: A meta-analysis adopted children (specifically internationally adopted children) are referred to mental health specialists more often than a non-adopted control (Juffer and Van IJzendoorn, 2005). We found this information interesting and decided to investigate for ourselves. We spoke with a family who has 3 internationally adopted children of their own. Through our discussion we found that 2 of the 3 are medicated for ADHD, 1 of the 3 is in counseling, while another is currently seeking a mental health professional to visit with. We found that things these children struggle with are abandonment, anger, and attention deficit, which is also conclusive with our research. These children were all apart of private, closed adoption and do not suffer from common issues of those in open adoptions such as attachment disorders, according to Agnich, Schueths, James, and Klibert, in an article titled The effects of adoption openness and type on the mental health, delinquency, and family relationships of adopted youth. The closed nature of these adoptions has allowed for the children to cope without experiencing the negative external behaviors that come with being in contact with a biological…

    • 695 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Best Practices In Adoption

    • 1172 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Most adoptions involve minor children in a legal process that profoundly affects them for the rest of their lives. It is imperative that professionals involved in adoptions act ethically to safeguard the rights of vulnerable…

    • 1172 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Closed Adoption

    • 918 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Open adoption refers to the legal agreement that each side has the full names of the other, plus their information to be able to get in contact with one another. An open adoption is usually formalized with a detailed agreement with rights granted by the birth parents to the adoptive parents. With an open adoption process it seems that the birthparents demonstrate a positive attitude towards their decision by being able to make a plan for the baby instead of abandoning the child. They also exhibit better mental health with an easier grief process. Being able to contact the birthparents provides the adoptive parents with photographs and makes it easier for trust to develop. With this type of adoption the birthparents are able to pick which family will be most suitable for the child, giving the adoptive parents a sense of entitlement to parenthood. Another great factor with open adoption is the ability to seek medical information that may be needed down the road. Having this type of adoption erases most questions asked by the child and takes away most of the confusion. The adoptive parents are able to communicate with their child instead of having unknown information. It is much easier for children of open adoption to understand their adoption, knowing information about their birthparents, and knowing that they were put up for adoption out of love. Yes, all families face issues and everyone has their own experiences with adoption, and with open adoption issues and questions are…

    • 918 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The article not only provided clarity but it also provided positive outcomes to relative adoptions. It showed the difference in outcome between in relative and non-relative care givers. It was proven through studies that kids that are fostered by relatives vs. non relative care givers are given the opportunity to maintain a relationship with their family members. Kinship not only facilitates cultural, spiritual and social growth it serves as an important component in family preservation and…

    • 836 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Laura chose an open adoption because her sister was adopted through a closed adoption and it brought no blessing to her. Laura believed that the secrecy of closed adoption brought her sister to have issues with anxiety and low self esteem. Laura said, “Ariel hasn’t had to deal with identity issues to the same degree as my sister. She knows her birthparents, and with that, she knows a lot more about herself. She knows who she looks like and her inherited medical history. Most importantly, she knows why she was given for adoption and that her biological parents loves her. It is essential that Ariel feels comfortable with her adoption and perceive her birthparents as positive, wonderful factors in her life” (“Open Adoption”). Ariel’s adoptive father also believes open adoption can help a child because, “In closed adoption, you face the prospect of keeping a secret and lying to your child about his or her origin. That violates the most basic relationship between a parent and child: TRUST!” (“Open Adoption”). Having the biological parents in the child’s life to inform them will help them understand who they are and creates a stronger relationship between both the child and the adoptive…

    • 1929 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Open adoption birth parents experience a sense of less guilt as a benefit (Gray 27) of the adoption but what benefit does the child rear? Adoption should be more for the child and less for the birth parents emotional ground. But closed adoption does give the birth parents privacy because “placing a child for adoption is an extremely sensitive and vulnerable choice. Having a closed adoption creates an opportunity for a stronger sense of privacy,” (“N. A. I. C. H.” 1) and it can also reduce fear because “some birth mothers are concerned about explaining their choice, and a closed adoption serves as a way to prevent them from a confrontation with a child placed for adoption” (“N. A. I. C. H.” 1). Closed adoption rids the birth parents of the responsibility they were not ready for in the first place and gives the child a chance at a better life with more responsible individuals. In some cases, closed adoption kills two birds with one stone by riding a birth parent of the embarrassment of not being prepared or financially stable for a child while giving the adoptive child a chance for a better life with an adoptive family that is looking for a child to give love and a good life…

    • 1154 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics