Domestic Adoptions and Mental Health

Abstract

Adoption is the legal act of taking in another individual's child or giving up a child for their well-being. As a society, do many of us wonder what happens to that child as they are growing up? This literature review begins with a brief description of the history of adoption. The focus will then shift towards addressing research questions that concern domestic adoptees' mental health. More specifically, the rates of psychological disorders among domestic adoptees versus non-adopted individuals are compared. Next, the literature review examines the risk factors for developing psychological disorders that are unique to domestic adoptees. This literature review also explores whether evidence-based psychotherapies have been developed to meet domestic adoptees' unique needs and psychological services utilization by this group. Finally, this project concludes with a set of clinical, research, and public policy recommendations to address domestic adoptees' unique psychological situation. Keywords: Adoption, U.S., Domestic, Adoptee, Mental Health, Mental Illness