Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Winter 1-2005
Journal / Book Title
The Counseling Psychologist
Abstract
This article addresses birth parents in the adoption triad by reviewing and integrating both the clinical and empirical literature from a number of professional disciplines with practice case studies. This review includes literature on the decision to relinquish one’s child for adoption, the early postrelinquishment period, and the effects throughout the lifespan on birth parents. Clinical symptoms for birth parents include unresolved grief, isolation, difficulty with future relationships, and trauma. Some recent research has found that some birth mothers who relinquish tend to fare comparably to those who do not relinquish on external criteria of well-being (e.g., high school graduation rates). However, there appear to be serious long-term psychological consequences of relinquishment. Limitations of the current literature are presented, and recommendations for practice and research are offered.
DOI
10.1177/0011000004265961
Montclair State University Digital Commons Citation
Baden, Amanda and Wiley, Mary O'Leary, "Birth Parents in Adoption: Research, Practice, and Counseling Psychology" (2005). Department of Counseling Scholarship and Creative Works. 90.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/counseling-facpubs/90
Published Citation
Wiley, Mary O’Leary, and Amanda L. Baden. "Birth parents in adoption: Research, practice, and counseling psychology." The Counseling Psychologist 33, no. 1 (2005): 13-50.
Included in
Biological Psychology Commons, Counseling Psychology Commons, Developmental Psychology Commons, Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons, Educational Psychology Commons, Experimental Analysis of Behavior Commons, Human Factors Psychology Commons, Other Education Commons, Other Sociology Commons, School Psychology Commons, Service Learning Commons, Social Control, Law, Crime, and Deviance Commons, Social Psychology Commons, Student Counseling and Personnel Services Commons