Kinship, the biological tie, and infertility: Factors that affect the willingness to adopt a child
Abstract
The main purpose of this study was to develop a theoretical model that explains an individual's willingness to adopt a child. Several factors are explored as possible determinants of willingness to adopt, including the importance of the biological tie in family relationships, the presence of pronatalist beliefs, attitudes toward adoptive parenthood as inferior to biological parenthood, and definitions of infertility as stigmatizing. Previous research asserts that kinship in American society is defined in biological terms, that American society is very pronatalist, that adoptive parenthood is viewed by the general public as inferior to biological parenthood, and that infertility is a stigmatizing trait. The sample consisted of 232 married individuals from a state university community in the Midwest who received a mail questionnaire that measures attitudes toward these different concepts, along with their willingness to adopt a child. The findings indicate that there is not overwhelming support for claims that American society is strongly pronatalist, that the biological tie is strongly emphasized in family relationships, and that infertility is very stigmatizing. The proximity to an adoptive relationship proved to be the strongest factor in determining willingness to adopt a child, followed by attitudes toward adoptive parenthood as inferior to biological parenthood and pronatalist beliefs. Variables that centered around the importance of the biological tie or genetic background did not have direct effects on willingness to adopt. Overall, the theoretical model only moderately explains willingness to adopt a child. Other factors that might account for this include fertility status, desired family size, timing of child bearing, and altruism.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Grauerholz, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Families & family life|Personal relationships|Sociology
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