1. College Students’ Attitudes About Who Should Adopt Timothy Dugas and Sara Sohr-Preston Southeastern Louisiana University
Abstract
To examine factors possibly contributing to selection for adoption, this study investigated college student’s attitudes toward potential adoptive parents. A sample of college students were asked a series of questions about the perspective parent and the child potentially adopted. Married prospective parents were rated more favorably in a number of areas than single prospective parents.
Method
Participants
A sample of undergraduate college students (N = 366) recruited from a Southeastern Louisiana campus were surveyed. Participants were predominately white (72.20%), female (78.50%), and averaged years old.
Vignettes
Vignettes were created which described married couples and single individuals who were attempting to adopt. Married couples consisted of same-sex and opposite-sex partners. Participants were randomly assigned to read vignettes featuring single versus married potential parents.
Measures
Survey items were created for the current study. Item content and response patterns are listed in Table 1. Items 1-14 utilized a scale of 1 (not at all likely) to 9 (extremely likely). Items were scaled from 1 (not at all) to 5 (completely). Item 20 was scaled from 1 (never) to 4 (probably).
Future Research and Implications
A more diverse sample would extend generalizability of these findings. Future researchers may construct different vignettes to observe if other factors change the attitudes towards couples and individuals, and their ability to adopt. Future researchers should also survey actual adoption agency staff. This research provides insight into biases possibly present in evaluating prospective adoptive parents and suggest areas to address in training adoption agency staff.
Introduction
Infant adoption is a pathway to parenthood for many adults, whether single, in same sex couples, or experiencing infertility or concerns about genetic inheritance. Selection involves some subjectivity (Shelley-Sireci & Ciano-Boyce, 2002), meaning not all prospective parents successfully adopt.
Attitudes towards adopting and adoption vary depending on many factors. Western societies tend to view adoption subpar to having biological children (Bartholet, 1993). This attitude was also observed in Latino immigrants, but declined slightly when the were infertile (Nachtigall, 2010).
Not only do attitudes about adopting vary, but so do opinions on whom should be able to adopt. Whatley and Jahangard (2003) reported college students being more accepting towards transracial adoption. This view was in opposition to Perry and Whitehead (2015) who observed that Christians were less accepting of transracial adoption. Crawford and Solliiday (1996) also reported a less favorable attitude towards same sex couples attempting to adopt and rated less likely to be awarded custody.
With so many differences in recent findings, the current study examined college students’ attitudes towards potential adopting parents to assess who might be more likely to be granted adoption rights if participants were employed by an adoption agency.
Hypothesis: Differences in attitudes would be observed towards married couples versus single individuals attempting to adopt
Table 1
Summary of ANOVA results
Single Mean (SD)
Married Mean (SD) F
1. This person will become a parent within the next year.
4.63 (2.11)
5.49 (2.15)
14.56 **
2. This person will become a parent within the next 5 years.
6.64 (2.03)
7.20 (1.81)
7.79 **
3. This person will be excited about being a parent.
8.24 (1.27)
8.35 (1.21)
.71
4. This person will be financially equipped for a new baby.
6.34 (1.78)
6.90 (1.66)
9.49 **
5. This person will be emotionally equipped for a new baby.
6.47 (1.59)
6.79 (1.70)
3.41
6. If selected to be an adoptive parent, this person’s baby will be healthy.
6.45 (1.64)
6.80 (1.70)
2.56
7. This person will resent the baby if selected to be an adoptive parent.
2.77 (2.08)
2.62 (2.08)
.44
8. This person will exhibit warmth and sensitivity with a baby.
7.34 (1.57)
7.64 (1.48)
3.28
9. This person will be a good role model for a child.
6.76 (1.69)
6.68 (1.99)
.16
10. A child adopted by this person will exhibit behavior problems.
4.27 (1.78)
4.52 (1.80)
1.82
11. A child adopted by this person will have a happy life.
6.56 (1.58)
6.70 (1.66)
.66
12. A child adopted by this person will receive needed attention.
6.73 (1.85)
7.29 (1.74)
8.86 **
13. A child adopted by this person will receive needed guidance and life lessons.
6.76 (1.83)
7.01 (1.79)
1.70
14. A child adopted by this person will develop healthy perceptions of romantic relationships.
5.58 (1.83)
6.35 (2.10)
13.17 **
15. Overall, to what degree do you support or approve of this person’s attempt to adopt?
3.99 (.98)
4.20 (1.01)
4.04 *
16. Overall, how likable do you think this person is?
3.86 (.80)
3.97 (.81)
17. Overall, how responsible do you think this person is?
4.06 (.75)
4.30 (.81)
7.72 **
18. Overall, how selfish do you think this person is?
2.05 (.87)
2.09 (.90)
.18
19. Overall, how immoral do you think this person is?
2.10 (.92)
2.30 (1.14)
3.10
20. Finally, do you picture yourself (or a partner) ever trying to become an adoptive parent?
2.62 (.74)
2.70 (.75)
1.06
Results
A series of one-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) were conducted to compare responses to survey items based on whether the potential parent in the vignette was single or married. Results of these ANOVA are summarized in Table 1.
Discussion
College students reported prospective adoptees who were married would be more likely to be granted adoption rights than single individuals. Students also were more likely to rate married couples to be responsible and provide a financially stable home for their child. Participants anticipated an adopted child would receive more attention if adopted by a married couple. Finally, participants approved of the adoption significantly less when the potential adoptive parent was single.
Note. * p < .05; ** p < .01