Sense of self: A narrative study of international adult Korean adoptees’ relationship with their birth families

Abstract

Adult adoptees searching and reuniting with birth families have been observed as a normative developmental work. The purpose of this study was to explore international adult Korean adoptees’ sense of self through their relationships with their birth families. A qualitative approach implementing narrative inquiry was used for this study. Open-ended interviews were conducted with nine international adult Korean adoptees who have had reunion experiences with their birth families and have continuing relationships with their birth families. This study concludes that international adult Korean adoptees’ relationships with their birth families precipitate the ongoing development of their senses of self in their adulthoods.