Engagement in Racial Socialization Among Transracial Adoptive Families With White Parents

Abstract

Objective To identify predictors of White transracial adoptive parents' engagement in racial socialization with their adopted minority adolescents. Background Racial socialization provides many benefits to racial minority youth, yet not all White parents who adopt transracially engage in this practice. Therefore, it is of value to examine factors that may predict the extent of transracial adoptive parents' engagement in racial socialization, including both cultural socialization and preparation for bias. Method A convenience sample of 80 transracial adoptive parents were recruited to participate in an online survey designed to assess their color‐blind attitudes, multicultural experiences, and racial socialization. Results Linear regression analyses revealed that parents interacting more frequently with ethnic minorities and endorsing less color‐blind attitudes were more likely to expose their child to their cultural heritage. Past multicultural experience was associated with preparing their children for discrimination. Follow‐up analysis revealed that parents with greater awareness of institutional racism were more likely to engage in preparation for bias. Conclusion Our findings suggest that transracial adoptive parents' level of interaction with people of different races and their attitudes about race are important predictors of their racial socialization. Implications Adoption professionals can promote a family environment conducive to meeting the needs of transracial adoptees by encouraging parents to engage with people of races other than their own and challenging their color‐blind attitudes.