Effects of Adoption

Adoption is an enduring process that bonds birth families, adoptees and adoptive families forever. Just like the other processes that involve family matters, adoption has a number of effects that can be seen in this triad relationship. The adoptive parents, birth parents and of course the adoptees are highly affected by this condition, thus one should understand each other to make the adoption process and the relationship smooth as possible.

Let’s take a look at the effects of adoption to these triad members.

Effects of Adoption to Birthparents

Numerous researches have revealed that on the part of birthparents, the ones who are highly affected by adoption are the birthmothers. One of the most heartbreaking effects of adoption is so far the tendency of birthmothers to have an intensive monologue with the fetus during pregnancy. This may also include that common fantasy of mothers in which they and their newborn baby can be rescued from the relinquishment.

Aside from those mentioned effects of adoption, several studies tell us that about 60% of the birthmothers felt that they were pressured into giving up their babies. 40% of these mothers have felt surrendering their newborn infants against their will. Well, most of these mothers are unwed and according to them, they were forced to surrender to babies for adoption as they were told not to come home until they get rid of the problem. As you may know, bearing a child out of wedlock is intolerable by society, and this is by far one of the most common factors that trigger birthmothers to submit their babies for adoption. So sad, but real!

Effects of Adoption to Adoptees

Aside from birthmothers, the adoptees are also deeply affected by adoption. Generally, the effects of adoption to the adoptees are said to be noticeable by many, but is sometimes extreme with others. The effects of adoption to the adoptees then vary a great deal.

Well, according to some researches, one of the most noticeable effects of adoption to the adoptees is vulnerability. Adoptees are shown to be vulnerable, thus a unique pattern of behavior is often observed. Most experts label this behavioral change as the “adopted child syndrome”.

The adopted children, after knowing the adoption, tend to show off certain disabilities in learning. Some of the experts consider this as an organic brain syndrome. In relation to this, most of those mental health professionals who have conducted studies on the effects of adoption were surprised to detect an alarming rate of their patients who happen to be adopted children.

There are other well-known effects of adoption to the adoptees, including the tendency to seek for alternative lifestyles, difficulties with drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders, infertility, attention deficit disorder, untimely pregnancies, and worst of all, suicide.

Effects of Adoption to Adoptive Parents

There are little known effects of adoption to the adoptive parents. What are only noted is the tendency of the adoptive parents to worry for the child to know the adoption, and sometimes a feeling of guilt and depression knowing that they are not the real parents of their child. Most of the effects of adoption to the adoptive parents are tolerable, however.