Transracial Adoption Among Asian Youth: Transitioning Through an Integrative Identity

Transracial adoption (TRA) places children across racial or national borders into non-biological families, raising complex questions about the adoptee’s racial identity. Guided by the bicultural identity integration theory, integrative racial and adoptive identity is defined as a developmental process with transformative variations. Method: With a mixed-design method, this study examines how Asian adoptees and non-Asian American adoptive parents navigated their racial and cultural adjustment journeys. A small and non-representative sample (N = 21) (14 parents and seven adoptees) was recruited for the survey. Eleven participants (seven parents and four adoptees) attended an individual semi-structured interview to describe TRA needs and obstacles. Results: (1) Even though adoptees and parents were comfortable sharing their adoption experiences through social media, adoptees continued their racial identity inquiries, while parents thought of being role models. (2) Integrative findings show adoptees wanted to learn about their “cultural socialization” at a younger age with parental guidance and normalize “reculturation” as they continued exploring their racial identities through external support. Their TRA journeys engage families in a support network appreciating racial/cultural differences and experiencing identity shifts as a part of reculturation. Implications: A social work platform is needed to provide justice-oriented opportunities for adoptees to share integrative identity journeys and for parents to hear adoptees about their lived experiences. Their engagement in mutual communication will help them show appreciation for each other’s efforts in the adjustment process.