• Korean Journal of Child Studies
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.99-116
• /
• 2010

The purpose of this study was to analyze the influences of family resilience on the self-concept of adopted children in open adoptive families in Korea. The participants of this study consisted of 94 adoptive parents and 113 of their elementary-aged adopted children. The findings of this study were as follows. First, the family resilience level of open adoptive families was 2.91 out of 4 full points. Second, the self-concept of adopted children in elementary school showed significantly higher scores than a norm group. Finally, the socio-demographic characteristics and adoption related factors did not significantly influence the self-concept of adopted children. Only the organization patterns of family resilience positively affected the self-concept of adopted children.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.105-119
• /
• 2008

Investigating cross-cultural differences of family stress and adaptation in Korea and Australia, 49 families in open adoption were administered the Family Index of Regenerativity and Adaptation-General (McCubbin, 1987), Family Problem Solving Communications (McCubbin et al., 1988), and Social Support Index (McCubbin et al., 1982). Data were analyzed by T-test and correlation analysis. Results indicated that adoption itself was the primary stressor in both countries. Korean adoptive families were under stress by family-oriented factors; Australian adoptive families experienced external family stress. Regarding family hardiness, coping efforts and family communication, Australian adoptive families reported significantly higher family functioning than Korean adoptive families. Findings suggested that a broad range of social support is needed to improve family adaptability in both countries.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.33-50
• /
• 2011

This study aims to examine experiences of adoptive families, mainly focusing on mothers with their biological children and adopted a child, through a phenomenological approach. The subjects of this study are adoptive family's mothers with their biological children according to a criterion-based selection. 15 mothers who adopted children under 12 months, who are currently aged over 6, are selected and given personal and in-depth interviews, questions ranging from the process before adoption, foster care and changes in family relationships to the issues caused by adoption and coping methods. 6 steps of a phenomenological method that Colaizzi(1978) proposed are applied to analyze the data. The results of this study are as follows. The central theme of this study is 'A family which has harmonized with love beyond blood ties'. First, the participants have shown difficulties in different aspects over adoption than those of sterile families. The motive of their adoption is to let adopted children experience a happy childhood in a loving family. Secondly, the participants have adjusted themselves to new adoptive families, have committed to the care of their new children, and have experienced a change in family relationships. Finally, adoptive families have successfully been settled while overcoming difficulties together.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.35-48
• /
• 2022

This study aims to investigate prejudiced descriptions of adoption and adoptive families in the major textbooks in the field of child and family welfare studies. To this end, we analyzed the compositions and contents of eleven different textbooks and found four necessary changes to recommend: first, we found it essential for authors to have a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of the open adoption culture and adoptive families. Second, we observed the need for the revision of prejudiced terminology found in textbooks' descriptions of adoptive families - about adopters, adoptees, and adoption institutions. Third, we advise an enhancement in the understanding of adoptive families reflecting both qualitative and quantitative understandings of the open adoption culture and perspective about social prejudice against adoptive families. Finally, we advocate for the inclusion adoptive families as one of the diverse forms a family can take, not only in the curriculum of child (children's rights) studies but also in the curricula of other family-related disciplines such as family welfare and healthy family theory. Based on these four changes, we propose a new approach to authoring including a multifaceted review of the subject composition and the content of the major textbooks and revision of the overall contents of the textbooks.

• International Journal of Human Ecology
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2015

Within the field of international adoption, little research has examined the involvement of fathers in cultural socialization practices. Using secondary data analysis with a sample of 332 international adoptive fathers and mothers, the present study examined international adoptive fathers' cultural socialization practices and compared these practices with those of international adoptive mothers. The results indicated that 1) family cultural socialization practices mainly engaged in by fathers were those that require little to no integration with people of the children's race and/or ethnicity, and 2) fathers' awareness or practices were found to be similar to those of mothers. This study illustrates the importance of continuing research on fathers' beliefs, attitudes, and practices in relation to the race and birth culture of their internationally adopted children.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
• /
• v.62 no.2
• /
• pp.209-233
• /
• 2010

The purpose of this study is to understand the 'search' experiences of adoptive families. To understand their experiences in searching for birth families, the researchers made contacts with adoptive families who had tried the search before, got informed consents from them, and took in-depth interview with each family. The qualitative case study approach was taken to analyze the data collected. Data collected from five adoptive families were employed for within-case analysis and cross-case analysis. The themes emerged from cross-case analysis were 'the awareness of being adopted', 'curiosity explosion', 'the anxious waiting', 'the moment the truth was found', 'Indeed, I'm a real mom', and 'Then, there was a silence'. Based on the results of the study, the policy and practical guidelines to support the search of adoptive families were suggested. Also, the suggestions for the following studies were made to obtain more abundant information beyond the limitations of the study.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.47-68
• /
• 2021

The purpose of this study was to provide information on adoptive families and obtain the basis data for adoption-related programs that are useful to adoptive families by examining their experiences in the adoption process, post-adoption adaptation, and adoption programs. For the study, in-depth interviews were conducted on six mothers who publicly adopted elementary school children and had expressed high satisfaction with adopted families and their willingness to participate in this research voluntarily. The main results exhibited parents' happiness post-adoption along with positive changes, such as internal growth, marital love growth, favorable response from others, and child's unexpected responses to adoption. However, open adoption mothers have coped with efforts to sympathize with and accept their children's feelings as they suffer from adoption, and with active support from their spouses, parents, and their own children. Open adoption mothers participated in various adoption-related programs, support, and voluntary self-help groups provided by adoption agencies or public organizations, and above all, their experience in self-help groups and peer groups of adopted children was found to be very useful. Based on these main results, we suggested strengthening welfare services for open adoption families, implementing education to better understand adoption, education for school teachers, students, and welfare staff, providing practical programs for adoptive families, and promoting self-help groups.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.459-468
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of eating habits and food preferences on the adoptive behavior of children with intellectual disabilities. Survey questionnaires were distributed to six special education schools located in the Daegu-Kyungbuk area, and data were collected from 552 families and teachers with intellectually disabled students. Identification of eating habits began with a factor analysis, and the results were a five-factor solution. Among the five patterns, factors 1 and 2 were significantly related with behavior problems of intellectually disabled children. Further, food preferences of the children were significantly related with adoptive behavior problems. The findings of this study clearly indicate that eating habits as well as food preferences are important factors in identifying adoptive behavior problems in intellectually disabled children. Based on the findings of this study, similarities and differences in eating habits are discussed, and implications for children are provided.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.19-34
• /
• 2015

The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of marital satisfaction and depression of adoptive mother on the problem behaviors of adopted children and the mediating effects of parenting competency between them. Contextual variables such as family background and adoption-related characteristics were also included as control variables. The results of multiple regression analysis showed marital satisfaction had significant influence on the problem behavior of adopted child through flexibility of parenting competency, while depression was not significantly related to parenting competency of adoptive mother. Yet, maternal depression had direct influence on the problem behavior of adopted child. Based on the limitations of the study, suggestions for further study were made.

• Korean Journal of Family Social Work
• /
• no.23
• /
• pp.71-102
• /
• 2008

The purpose of this study was to understand the meaning of being adopted that adopted children have experienced. To achieve this purpose, researchers contacted adopted children and adoptive parents, collected data through in-depth interview and document, and analysed these data using case study approach. 23 adopted children over three ages and their parents were interviewed for this study. Participants were classified into three groups(3~5 ages, 6 ages, over 7 ages) based on their age. Researchers investigated the changes of the meaning of being adopted by age. The major findings were follows: First, the meaning of being adopted that adopted children have experienced was changed from 6 ages. Second, this study analyzed that the meaning of being adopted was love born by heart at 3~5 ages, inevitable grief at 6 ages and first step of adoptive person over 7 ages. Based on the findings, this study suggested practice guidelines to help adoptive children and their family.