Adult Adoptees and Their Friends: Current Functioning and Psychosocial Well‐Being^*

Abstract

Adoptees ( n = 100 ) and a matched group of their friends completed measures of psychosocial well‐being thought particularly salient for adult adoptees. Results indicated more similarities (life satisfaction, life regrets, purpose in life, intimacy, substance abuse) than differences (connectedness, depression, self‐esteem) between the two groups. Adoptees expressed stronger regrets about 75 general than adopted‐related issues. Follow‐up analyses suggested greater variability within the adoptee than the friend group on several variables; search status helped explain this greater variability.