In 1996, DeBerry, Scarr, and Weinberg studied the unique stressors that negatively influence psychological adjustment in transracial adoptees. Like other studies of the time, it was limited because it only involved African American participants in the 17-24 year old age range [6]. That said, these researchers did find empirical evidence that transracial adoptees experienced maladjustment that was positively correlated with specific stressors from racial appearance, racial identity, and sense of “not belonging” [6].

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In a 2012 study of adopted Chinese adolescent girls, researchers discovered that older adoptees scored lower on ethnic identity affirmation but higher on scores of ethnic marginality [19]. Feelings about adoption were bittersweet and dependent on the reference group (e.g. age group, those who were in orphanages, good or bad adjustment in adoptive placement). These findings were important because they contradict the Theory of Ethnic Identity which postulates that older children have more consolidated ethnic identity and thus conceivably lower levels of ethnic marginality [19].

 

Could this be due to increased self-awareness or feelings of racial-ethnic insecurity?