Reunions of adoptees who have met both birth parents: post-reunion relationships and factors that facilitate and hinder the reunion process

Passmore, Nola L. and Feeney, Judith A. (2009) Reunions of adoptees who have met both birth parents: post-reunion relationships and factors that facilitate and hinder the reunion process. Adoption Quarterly, 12 (2). pp. 100-119. ISSN 1092-6755

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Abstract

Eighteen adoptees who had met both their birth mothers and birth fathers were surveyed in order to determine (a) the types of post-reunion relationships they developed with each birth parent and (b) the factors that facilitated or hindered their reunions. While adoptees were more likely to develop a personal rather than non-personal relationship with birth mothers, relationships with birth fathers were more evenly divided between personal and non-personal relationships. Thematic analysis revealed some similarities in the factors that influence reunions with each birth parent (e.g., birth parent characteristics, support from others), though some differences also emerged (e.g., reactions to pregnancy and relinquishment). Issues of kinship, identity, and family structure are discussed, along with implications for counseling.

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Item Type:	Article (Commonwealth Reporting Category C)
Refereed:	Yes
Item Status:	Live Archive
Faculty / Department / School:	Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Psychology
Date Deposited:	11 Mar 2010 11:41
Last Modified:	02 Jul 2013 23:19
Uncontrolled Keywords:	adoption; adoptees; birth mothers; birth fathers; birth parents; reunions; counseling
Fields of Research :	17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1701 Psychology > 170113 Social and Community Psychology 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1701 Psychology > 170102 Developmental Psychology and Ageing 16 Studies in Human Society > 1608 Sociology > 160801 Applied Sociology, Program Evaluation and Social Impact Assessment
Socio-Economic Objective:	E Expanding Knowledge > 97 Expanding Knowledge > 970117 Expanding Knowledge in Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
Identification Number or DOI:	10.1080/10926750902978865
URI:	http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/5323

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