The experience of adult adopted persons in open adoption: An interpretive inquiry

As an institution, adoption has continued to change and evolve with the passage of time. In recent years, the trend is towards more openness in the expansion of adoptive kinship networks. The concept of openness in adoption is not new but as a form of contemporary practice, open adoption only emerged as a child welfare service in the 1980s (Carp, 1998). As such, the research is limited in terms of documenting adoptee experiences throughout the life span. Given the dearth of literature on adult adoptees in open adoption family constellations, this study examines the question of: What is the experience of adult adopted persons in open adoption?;Interpretive inquiry employing a hermeneutic approach was utilized to investigate the retrospective experiences of seven adult adoptees that were raised in open adoption arrangements. As a research methodology, hermeneutic inquiry exemplifies a valid and creative approach to understanding new and complex phenomena. It is embedded in a rich tradition of philosophical thought that forms the foundation of the research practice. Hermeneutic inquiry requires the researcher to become involved in the research process in a manner that calls for immersion, fusion and transformation. The utilization of a philosophical hermeneutic approach allowed for a deeper understanding of open adoption through an exploration of my conversations with the seven participants in this study. The interpretation reveals that open adoption is a unique experience that is influenced by multiple contexts. The development and maintenance of relationships with birth family members is a fluid process that is highly individualistic and changes over time.