Qualitative study reveals negative relational and identity impacts of religious adoption messages in adult adoptees, highlighting factors behind religious disaffiliation.
Key Points
To examine adult adoptees' perceptions of memorable messages about religion and adoption received during childhood and evaluate their long-term impact on relationships, identity, well-being, and religiousness.
Conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with adult adoptees raised in Christian adoptive families (N = 41).
Applied the framework of the theory of memorable messages to assess retrospective sense-making regarding messages such as being chosen, rescued, or part of God's plan.
A majority of participants reported negative impacts from religious adoption messages, including alienated family dynamics, hindered racial and adoptive identity formation, and emotional distress.
Adoptees frequently renegotiated their religious beliefs in response to these messages, with many cutting ties with organized religion entirely.
A minority of participants perceived messages positively, citing emotional comfort, enhanced faith, and closer familial relationships.