Intercountry adoption: The experiences and adjustments of families adopting children from Latin America, China, and the United States

The present research examined the characteristics, experiences and adjustment of 176 intercountry and in-country adoptive families, who chose to adopt a child from Latin America, from China, or from the United States. Quantitative data analysis revealed differences between adoptive families with children from Latin America and in-country adoptive families. In-country adoptive families were more likely to report infertility as the reason for their adoption, while adoptive families with children from Latin America were more likely to report other reasons for their adoption, such as "wanted a daughter," and "I wanted motherhood." More than 25% of in-country adoptive parents and parents with children from Latin America reported they had contact with a birthparent or birthfamily member. Differences between adoptive families with children from Latin America and in-country adoptive parents on their overall level of adjustment were identified. Responses by the adoptive parents to the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), the Parenting Stress Index (Parent Version), and Kirk's Acknowledgment or Rejection of Differences Scale, indicated there were differences between adoptive families with children from Latin America and in-country adoptive families. The younger children of in-country adoptive families and families with children from Latin America had lower CBCL Total Competence Scores, which placed these younger children in the borderline clinical range. The older children showed no indication of any problems. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis revealed that adoptive families with children from China were different from adoptive families with children from Latin America and in-country adoptive families. Adoptive parents of children from China were more likely to report that their child had experienced some neglect or abuse prior to their adoption, and 25% of the adoptive parents of children from China were single parents. Due to the continuing practice of intercountry adoptions and the increasing number of children adopted from Latin America and China, this study holds significance for child welfare workers, adoption agencies, and others concerned with the challenges and opportunities that accompany all adoptions, and the unique challenges of intercountry adoption.