Impact of Memorable Messages about Religion and Adoption

This study examines the impact of memorable messages about adoption and religion on adult adoptees raised in Christian adoptive homes. The study explores how these messages shape adoptees' emotional well-being, identity development, relationships, and religiousness. The study places the findings within existing research on adoption communication, microaggressions, and entrance narratives. Forty-one adult adoptees were interviewed regarding the memorable messages they heard growing up, their interpretations of the messages, and the impact the messages had on their emotional well-being, relationships, identity development, and religious affiliation. Using Tracy's phronetic iterative approach, a qualitative analysis was conducted to identify themes within the data. Four overarching memorable message themes emerged: emotions, identity, relationships, and religion. Several subthemes were identified as well. Emotions could be classified as either negative emotions and mental health or healing/comforting/holding in tension. Identity subthemes were distinguished as barrier/avoidance (messages did not promote identity exploration), reclaiming (adoptee is rewriting the narrative of their identity), or acknowledge/celebrate diversity (messages promoted diversity and identity exploration). Subthemes for relationships included alienation/cutting ties, compartmentalize/superficial/not full self, or deepening/strengthening. Religious subthemes were identified as leaving/disconnecting (abandoning faith/organized religion), holding on to parts (remaining in a faith or organized religion but pushing against certain messages or ideas), or solidifying/healing (adoption story was reaffirmed and intertwined with faith/religion). The study aims to create insight into how these messages can potentially affect the life course of adoptees, especially their sense of belonging and identity. It also examines how faith-based values impact their religious beliefs and emotional well-being. This research also reveals how faithful environments support and challenge adoptees' sense of self, as they navigate adoption-related and spiritual narratives. Such findings gather ways to support adoptees as they explore the relationship between family expectations, faith, and personal identity.