Reclaiming lineage: Experiences of pregnancy and childbirth for Asian American adopted adults

Though often framed as an intervention, adoption inherently involves an attachment rupture and loss of birth family. For adoptees, significant life events, including pregnancy and childbirth, may raise issues around their own birth story, relinquishment, and relationship (or lack of relationship) wi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Asian American journal of psychology 2024-09
Main Authors: Kim, Oh Myo, Hexter, Lillian Jiwoo, Donnelly, Emma Yangren, Hayashi, Yuka
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adoptees
Adoption (Child)
Asians
Biological Family
Experiences (Events)
Family Relations
Female
Human
Pregnancy
Trauma
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Summary:Though often framed as an intervention, adoption inherently involves an attachment rupture and loss of birth family. For adoptees, significant life events, including pregnancy and childbirth, may raise issues around their own birth story, relinquishment, and relationship (or lack of relationship) with birth family. This study is a qualitative analysis of 41 interviews of Asian American adoptees who have experienced pregnancy and childbirth. Using a grounded theory methodology, the core concept that emerged in this study centered around the theme of adoptees raising their own biological children as a form of reclamation of family, lineage, and genetic connection. The disruption of lineage between birth family and adoptee impacted not only the adoptee, but also the adoptee’s relationship with their future child(ren). The three main themes included: (1) grief and loss, (2) attachment and adoption trauma, and (3) genetic–relative family health history. Each theme was represented in the relationships between birth family and adoptee and the relationship between adoptee and child. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)
ISSN:1948-1985
1948-1993
DOI:10.1037/aap0000353