Adult Adoptees’ Perceptions of the Impact of Memorable Messages About Religion and Adoption

This qualitative study explored adult adoptees’ perceptions of the impact of memorable messages about religion and adoption that they received while growing up in Christian adoptive families. Situated within the theory of memorable messages, the research examined the perceived impact of these memorable messages on adoptees’ relationships, identity development, emotional well-being, and religiousness. Forty-one adult adoptees participated in semi-structured interviews regarding religious memorable messages about adoption, such as being chosen , saved/rescued, adoption being part of God’s plan , and described the perceived impact of receiving these messages from adoptive family and church members while growing up. The majority of participants perceived negative or difficult impacts of the messages, such as inauthentic or alienated family relationships, barriers to adoptive or racial identity development, and emotional difficulties. Additionally, in response to these messages, participants reported a need to renegotiate relationships with religion and religious communities, either by holding on to parts of religion while letting go of messages they had been told or by cutting ties with religion entirely. Conversely, a minority described religious memorable messages as emotionally comforting, faith-affirming, celebrating of their identity, and leading to a deepening of relationships. Overall, adoptees’ retrospective sense-making seemed to shape their perceived impact of messages, supporting the theory of memorable messages’ emphasis on interpretive processes over time. The findings contribute to scholarship on adoptee identity formation and emotional well-being. Additionally, findings related to estrangement and factors contributing to religious disaffiliation have implications for the broader literature on these topics across various family forms.