Adoption-related feelings, loss, and curiosity about origins in adopted adolescents

Abstract

Adoption involves strong emotions. From the adoptee’s point of view, adoption means not only the gain of a new family but also inevitable losses. This study aims at analyzing adoption-related feelings, which include the feelings of loss and the ensuing curiosity about the birth family and pre-adoption life. A total of 81 adopted adolescents, aged 12–22, adopted at 4 years of age, on average, participated in this study. The data were collected using the Questionnaire of Adoption-related Feelings and the Adopted Adolescents Interview, which allowed for the identification of the experiences, feelings, and attitudes of the adopted adolescents regarding their story before and after adoption, and their feelings towards their birth family. The results showed that most participants did not identify adoption-related losses. Nevertheless, they acknowledged the existence of some aspects of their adoption story that made them feel sad and angry and could identify several difficulties associated with their adoptive status. Participants showed low levels of curiosity even if they were mostly curious about the reasons why they had been placed up for adoption. The adoptees’ feelings when thinking about their birth parents, the curiosity regarding their past, and their adoption-related losses predicted their feelings related to the adoption experience. Several implications for the psychological practice with adopted adolescents will be presented.