"We Talk About it at the Dinner Table": Parent Discussions of Identity and Politics in Diverse Adoptive Families in the United States

Parents discussing identity and politics with their diverse adolescents can be protective against experiences of political stress and negative outcomes (Anderson, 2023). Identity discrepancies between parents and adolescents may complicate these conversations (McCrimmon et al., 2024). However, this research often only focuses on only one identity (e.g., race or gender; Mendez, 2022). Because negative political climates affect multiple identities simultaneously (Kassing et al., 2021), the current study explores political conversations in diverse, adoptive family contexts with varying (un)shared identities. Through reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2021), 7 major themes were developed. Results suggest that identity discrepancies may underlie a lack of understanding in these conversations. Educational materials, as well as non-demographic identity connections, were potential mitigators. Clarifying the role of identity discrepancies in families and highlighting unique solutions may help parents navigate barriers to discuss difficult topics in a protective manner. These findings also have implications for family-based clinical practice and for local government funding and policy.