Cultural Socialization Practices in Domestic and International Transracial Adoption

Abstract

This study explored cultural socialization practices, their relationship to demographic-, child-, and adoption-related factors, and parents’ perceptions of closeness and satisfaction with adoption among international and domestic transracially adopted children. Data from the National Survey of Adoptive Parents indicated that parents rely on socialization practices that require little to no integration with people of the children's race/ethnicity. Participation in post-adoption support groups, education, and online resources were related to cultural socialization practices. Two of nine practices were related to international transracial adoptive parent's perceptions of closeness with their child and satisfaction with adoption. Implications for practice and research are discussed.