Female adoptees' perceptions of contact with their birth fathers: satisfactions and dissatisfactions with the process

Article

Passmore, Nola L. and Chipuer, Heather M.. 2009. "Female adoptees' perceptions of contact with their birth fathers: satisfactions and dissatisfactions with the process." American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. 79 (1), pp. 93-102. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014954
Article Title

Female adoptees' perceptions of contact with their birth fathers: satisfactions and dissatisfactions with the process

ERA Journal ID40380
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsPassmore, Nola L. (Author) and Chipuer, Heather M. (Author)
Journal TitleAmerican Journal of Orthopsychiatry
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry: interdisciplinary approaches to mental health and social justice
Journal Citation79 (1), pp. 93-102
Number of Pages10
Year2009
Place of PublicationHoboken, NJ. United States
ISSN0002-9432
1939-0025
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014954
Abstract

Qualitative data were analyzed to identify factors associated with adoptees’ satisfactions or dissatisfactions in their contact experiences with their birthfathers. Participants were 17 women who had been adopted prior to two years of age and had subsequently met their birthfathers. All women completed a questionnaire and seven also took part in a semi-structured interview. Four main themes were identified that affected satisfaction with contact: birthfathers’ attributes and behavior, adoptees’ attributes (e.g., expectations), behavior of others (e.g., birthmother, birthfather’s family, and adoptive parents), and circumstances of the conception and relinquishment. The implications of these findings for members of the adoption triangle and those providing post-adoption services are discussed.

Keywordsadoptees; adoption; birthfathers; birth fathers; birthparents; birth parents; reunion; family contact
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020520199. Applied and developmental psychology not elsewhere classified
520599. Social and personality psychology not elsewhere classified
441001. Applied sociology, program evaluation and social impact assessment
Public Notes

File reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/author.

Byline AffiliationsDepartment of Psychology
Griffith University
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/9z001/female-adoptees-perceptions-of-contact-with-their-birth-fathers-satisfactions-and-dissatisfactions-with-the-process

Log in to edit

Download files

Accepted Version
Passmore_Chipuer_2009_AV.pdf
File access level: Anyone

  • 1989
    total views
  • 536
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 2
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Parental bonding and religiosity as predictors of dispositional forgiveness
Passmore, Nola L., Rea, Vivienne C., Fogarty, Bronwyn T. and Zelakiewicz, Pualani M. L.. 2009. "Parental bonding and religiosity as predictors of dispositional forgiveness." Voudouris, Nicholas and Mrowinski, Vicky (ed.) 44th Australian Psychological Society Annual Conference 2009. Darwin, Australia 30 Sep - 04 Oct 2009 Melbourne, Australia.
Religious issues in counselling: are Australian psychologists 'dragging the chain'?
Passmore, Nola L.. 2003. "Religious issues in counselling: are Australian psychologists 'dragging the chain'?" Australian Psychologist. 38 (3), pp. 183-192. https://doi.org/10.1080/00050060310001707197
Adoption and the Father Heart of God: helping adoptees deal With issues of identity and loss
Passmore, Nola L.. 2004. "Adoption and the Father Heart of God: helping adoptees deal With issues of identity and loss ." Journal of Psychology and Christianity. 23 (2), pp. 165-175.
Depression, emotional arousability, and perceptions of parenting in adult adoptees and non-adoptees
Passmore, Nola L., Feeney, Judith A., Peterson, Candida C. and Shimmaki, Kumiyo. 2006. "Depression, emotional arousability, and perceptions of parenting in adult adoptees and non-adoptees." Adoption Quarterly. 9 (2/3), pp. 23-35. https://doi.org/10.1300/J145v09n02_02
Parental bonding and identity style as correlates of self-esteem among adult adoptees and nonadoptees
Passmore, Nola L., Fogarty, Gerard J., Bourke, Carolyn J. and Baker-Evans, Sandra F.. 2005. "Parental bonding and identity style as correlates of self-esteem among adult adoptees and nonadoptees." Family Relations. 54 (4), pp. 523-534. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2005.00338.x
Adoption, adult attachment security, and relationship outcomes
Foulstone, Alexis R., Feeney, Judith A. and Passmore, Nola L.. 2005. "Adoption, adult attachment security, and relationship outcomes." Bowles, Terry (ed.) The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (2004). Melbourne, Australia 12 - 13 Nov 2005 Melbourne, Australia.
Forgiveness and interpersonal skills in same-sexed friendships
Passmore, Nola L., Fogarty, Bronwyn T., Conroy, Kathleen L., Zelakiewicz, Pualani M. L. and Rea, Vivienne C.. 2010. "Forgiveness and interpersonal skills in same-sexed friendships." Djokic, Tatjana (ed.) PORIG 2010: Building Resilience through Personal, Family and Community Relationships. Brisbane, Australia 06 - 07 Nov 2010 Melbourne, Australia.
Birth fathers' perspectives on reunions with their relinquished children
Passmore, Nola L. and Coles, Gary. 2009. "Birth fathers' perspectives on reunions with their relinquished children." Hazelwood, Zoe J. (ed.) 9th Annual Conference of the Australian Psychological Society's Psychology of Relationships Interest Group: Connecting Research and Practice in Relationships. Brisbane, Australia 07 - 08 Nov 2009 Melbourne, Australia.
Determinants of subjective quality of life among rural adolescents: a developmental perspective
Chipuer, Heather M., Bramston, Paul and Pretty, Grace. 2003. "Determinants of subjective quality of life among rural adolescents: a developmental perspective." Social Indicators Research: an international and interdisciplinary journal for quality-of-life measurement. 61 (1), pp. 79-95. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021271831731
Reunions of adoptees who have met both birth parents: post-reunion relationships and factors that facilitate and hinder the reunion process
Passmore, Nola L. and Feeney, Judith A.. 2009. "Reunions of adoptees who have met both birth parents: post-reunion relationships and factors that facilitate and hinder the reunion process." Adoption Quarterly. 12 (2), pp. 100-119. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926750902978865
Openness and secrecy in adoptive families and possible effects on the interpersonal relationships of adult adoptees
Passmore, Nola L., Foulstone, Alexis R. and Feeney, Judith A.. 2006. "Openness and secrecy in adoptive families and possible effects on the interpersonal relationships of adult adoptees." Bowles, Terry (ed.) 6th Annual Conference of the APS Psychology of Relationships Interest Group: Relationships Near and Far. Melbourne, Australia 11 - 12 Nov 2006 Melbourne, Australia.
Do Christian concepts and principles have a place in academia? A case study in integration
Passmore, Nola L.. 2007. "Do Christian concepts and principles have a place in academia? A case study in integration." Moore, Kate (ed.) 42nd Australian Psychological Society Annual Conference 2007. Brisbane, Australia 25 - 29 Sep 2007 Melbourne, Australia.
Helping adults who were adopted as children
Passmore, Nola L.. 2007. "Helping adults who were adopted as children." 3rd International Conference on Post Adoption Services (ACTION). Massachucetts, United States 19 - 21 Feb 2007
Secrecy within adoptive families and its impact on adult adoptees
Passmore, Nola, Feeney, Judy and Foulstone, Alex. 2007. "Secrecy within adoptive families and its impact on adult adoptees." Family Relationships Quarterly.
The Neighbourhood Youth Inventory: development and validation
Chipuer, H. M., Pretty, G. H., Delorey, E., Miller, M., Powers, T., Rumstein, O., Barnes, A., Cordasic, N. and Laurent, K.. 1999. "The Neighbourhood Youth Inventory: development and validation." Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology. 9 (5), pp. 355-368.
Adoptees' relationship experiences post-reunion: exploring the effects of interactions with biological relatives
Passmore, Nola, Foulstone, Alexis and Feeney, Judith. 2006. "Adoptees' relationship experiences post-reunion: exploring the effects of interactions with biological relatives." Wilkinson, Ross and Pearce, Zoe (ed.) 6th Annual Conference of the APS Psychology of Relationships Interest Group: Relationships Near and Far. Melbourne, Australia 11 - 12 Nov 2006 Oxford, United Kingdom . https://doi.org/10.1080/00049530600940020
Relationships between adult attachment style, adoptee's motives for searching, and reunion satisfaction with birthmothers
Passmore, Nola L., Feeney, Judith A. and Peterson, Candida C.. 2005. "Relationships between adult attachment style, adoptee's motives for searching, and reunion satisfaction with birthmothers." Bowles, Terry (ed.) Australian Psychology Society's Psychology of Relationships Interest Group 5th Annual Conference 2004. Melbourne, Australia 12 - 13 Nov 2005 Melbourne, Australia.
Adoption, attachment and relationship concerns: a study of adult adoptees
Feeney, Judith A., Passmore, Nola L. and Peterson, Candida C.. 2007. "Adoption, attachment and relationship concerns: a study of adult adoptees." Personal Relationships. 14 (1), pp. 129-147. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2006.00145.x
Sense of place amongst adolescents and adults in two rural Australian towns: the discriminating features of place attachment, sense of community and place dependence in relation to place identity
Pretty, Grace, Chipuer, Heather M. and Bramston, Paul. 2003. "Sense of place amongst adolescents and adults in two rural Australian towns: the discriminating features of place attachment, sense of community and place dependence in relation to place identity." Journal of Environmental Psychology. 23 (3), pp. 273-287. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-4944(02)00079-8
Conceptual principles of quality of life: an empirical exploration
Bramston, Paul, Chipuer, Heather M. and Pretty, Grace. 2005. "Conceptual principles of quality of life: an empirical exploration." Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. 49 (10), pp. 728-733.