Exploratory study of the identity issues of adolescents in international adoption

Abstract

Internationally adopted children face many adoption related challenges, which can complicate their identity development and arouse many questions during adolescence. Nonetheless, a few studies have investigated these questions. This research aims to describe these identity questions and to document the singularity of their expression among 76 international adoptees whom answered to a semi-structured interview. A thematic analysis of the interview’s content shows that their main questions are about the circumstances of their adoption, the identity of their biological family and the life they would experience if adoption didn’t occur. For many participants, discussions with adoptive parents allow them to construct the story of their origins, and therefore, to gain a better sense of identity. On the other hand, some of the participants are reluctant to abord the subject of their origins.