Skeletons in the closet: Exploring the best interest for adopted children in a Southeast Asian region

Abstract

This study explored the conditions of the adoptive children in relation to the surrounding circumstances of their adoption, their adoptive parents, and their experiences with their adoptive family. The study involved 30 adopted children and their adoptive parents who were purposively selected and interviewed. Data obtained through the interview were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings of the study reveal that the majority of the children were adopted upon birth and most of these adopted children were females. The factors that led to the adoption were unwanted pregnancy, economic difficulty, and abandonment by the biological father. Most of these children were adopted by childless couples who were akin to these children and who were gainfully employed. Upon knowing about their adoption, most of these children felt so bad but consoled by the thought of the affection their adoptive parents have given them. Moreover, these children were found to be accorded with their rights as lawful members of their adoptive family. Thus, adopted children under a nourishing familial environment grow as normally and as healthy as any children do with their own family.