Social Construction of Inter-country Adoption: its Psycho-Social Impact on the Adopted - Research Proposal Example

Yvonne Marie Leyson For: Unidentified Research Proposal 22 March, 2006 Social Construction of Inter-country Adoption: It's Psycho-Social Impact on the Adopted Abstract The present study seeks to identify the social construction of child adoption and its effects on an adoptee through projective interviews. To create a point of argument, we shall be selecting two demographic groups of 17 adopted adults of different racial origin (identified here as Group A) from their adoptive parents and 15 adopted adults (identified here as Group B) with the similar racial origin with their adoptive parents. A specific characteristic of all the adopted adults is identified with having different racial origins and those with similar racial origins with their adoptive parents. Introduction Traditional kinship is usually established by biological affinity but society has legally allowed authentic family life to consider inter-racial or inter-country adoption as a normal concept. Children crossing borders to be united with their new families experienced a battery of stressful change upon their incorporation into a new society. Civil society lauds itself for extending its arms over children of third level countries adopted by their new foster families. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY Are there any significant emotional and psychological changes experienced by these adoptees whose perceptions are forever altered in favor of a new set-up Are there views about inter-country adoption in the community that may be relevant to the development of the adopted in terms of acceptance Should inter-racial adoption be prohibited If not, should there be other remedies to minimize the problem that could be encountered in opposition to the difference of racial origin among the adoptee Can we assume that adoption of a child with a different racial origin from the adoptive parents ultimately helps the adopted achieve a better outlook in life based on the behavior of the society to assist him in the challenges of a totally heterogeneous world IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH Previous studies have sought answers in relation to adoption and its implication to family and society behavioral patterns. This study will identify the theoretical construction of an inter-racial adoptee into a society. The impact of the construction into the new society will be advocated through experiences and opinions shared and portrayed by the adoptee regarding their family set-up and how the society aided or neglected them in relation to their biological origin. Previous Works Adoption of Non-White Children in Britain by Raynor, Ethnic and Racial Identity in Adoption within the United Kingdom and O' Jill's Trans-racial Adoption in Britain dwells on similar aspects of this study. R Roy et al's "Self-Esteem and racial identity in trans-racial and in-racial adoptees" gives out a similar study with stunning results. Review of Literature Bagley and Gabor in Miall's research have identified the community as an important stakeholder in the adoption process. Their contribution to the psycho-social development of an adoptee holds an important factor that needed room for further study. Social support may serve as a buffering mechanism between stress and health for these individuals as stressed by Colburn and Eakin. This research utilizes the social constructionist theory to explore community views of adoption in general and the adopted children. Social constructionists oppose to the idea that social problems arise or are constructed through social explanations about how these problems should be dealt (Best,1989). Adopted children through a study conducted by Fletcher in 1997 on adopted and non-adopted adults particularly on traits relating to psycho-social adjustment showed that overall non-adopted group manifested better adjustment than the adopted adults. Brodzinsky's research identifies the notion that adoptees are more vulnerable to emotional, behavioral and academic problems compared to non-adopted children living with their biological parents. A 1995 study conducted by Cohen and Westhues revealed that self-esteem among adoptees are as strong among the general population whereby both females and males demonstrate the same pattern of self-esteem development. Such findings concur with Rosenberg's study that supports parental interest, school achievement, positive peer relationships and special talents or skill enhance self-esteem. Personality factors, interpersonal behavior styles and social support networks were used to measure psychological adjustment conducted by Haan and Johanna using the 16 Personality Factors Questionnaire and the Interpersonal Network Questionnaire. Findings suggest that non-adoptees are more intelligent than adoptees. Ingersoll urged for the early intervention of children at risk of environmental and genetic factor deviations that may manifest externalizing disorders among adopted children. Varied psycho-social ramifications of adoption between men and women are noted in a study examining psycho-social functioning conducted by National Child Development Study. Another area of research which could provide a suggestive result to the community was pointed out by Valley, et al. The activities of the social worker as an external representative of the community is assessed in terms of his/her support towards the adopted ward. Mothering Dot Commune website encountered one plaguing question on the adoption of babies with dissimilar skin color from its adoptive parents. Overall, this present study seeks to explore the differences between adoptees of dissimilar and similar origins from their adoptive parents. Methodology Participants A sample shall consist of 32 adopted adults from the age of 18-30 from a certain area. Adoptees of dissimilar racial origin from their adoptive parents (known as Group A) shall consist of 53 % and adoptees (known as Group B) with similar ancestral origins with their adoptive parents will compose 47%. The Group A adopted adults shall be recruited via website and interviewed personally utilizing projective tests with the goal of eliciting their own opinion regarding their adopted status. The comparison Group B will be recruited via another website and notices around the local area of the same demographic characteristics with the adopted group, including age, sex, educational level and past relevant experiences within the society. ANALYSIS Loevinger's Sentence Completion Test will be employed to measure the Ego Stage of the individuals. Interview data shall consist of an examination for corroboration or refutation of themes through a TAT on Mc Clelland's Alienation. Results may consists no indication of differences in Ego Stage but a significant difference may be interpreted through "Alienation" scores (p Read More