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Exploring the experiences of adoptees who have not searched for their birth relatives

University of British Columbia

This study explored the experiences of adult adoptees who have not searched for their biological relatives. The purpose of this study was to hear about the lived experiences of adoptees who have not searched and to explore the patterns and themes that arise through hearing these experiences. This study attempted to gain conceptual understanding of the relationship between adoptees' experiences in their adoptive families and communities and the decision not to search for birth relatives. This was an exploratory, qualitative study in which six adult women adoptees were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. The interviews were approximately forty-five minutes to one and a half hours long. The transcribed interview data was analyzed using the constant comparative method. Through exploring the experiences of adoptees who have not actively searched for their biological relatives (and whose experiences have not generally been voiced in the literature), this study provided further insight into the diversity of adoption experiences and has direct implication for adoption policy and practice with all members of the adoption system.

Thesis/Dissertation

application/pdf

2009-02-10

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/4383

Social Work

University of British Columbia

UBCV

DSpace